Last Updated: 11/03/15 7:32am
Jamie Mackie: Celebrates one of his two goals
Steve Clarke enjoyed Reading's "big win" over Brighton and insists his side are not yet thinking about their FA Cup quarter-final replay against Bradford next Monday.
After breaking a losing run of three matches at home with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday evening, Clarke said that the Championship trip to Watford on Saturday was the only matter on his mind.
"That win gives us a lift in the league because that's what we needed," he said. "It was a big win for us. We wanted to make the gap bigger between us and the bottom three. And we deserved to do it.
"Saturday is the next game and we're just preparing for that - that only. It was important to put in a good home performance because we've lost the last three games here and not scored any goals. We showed a lot of grit, determination and character."
The teams went into the game with poor goalscoring records at home and away respectively. Reading had not scored in three successive defeats at the Madejski; Brighton had not scored in four successive away matches.
Reading, who will play Arsenal in the cup semi-finals if they beat Bradford, should have gone ahead early on, when Jake Cooper miscued Garath McCleary's free-kick towards goal. The ball was going in until Jake Forster-Caskey hacked it off the line.
Greg Halford, the former Reading defender, should have done better for Brighton but, when presented with a free header from an Emmanuel Ledesma free-kick, nodded tamely at home goalkeeper Adam Federici.
Reading went ahead in the 24th minute. Jamie Mackie was alert to Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale's poor clearance and, after collecting possession, he ran on to unleash a powerful drive past Stockdale. It was Reading's first home goal in 344 minutes.
Brighton offered little in the first half but were gifted an equaliser in the 53rd minute, when Cooper clumsily pushed Ledesma in the home area. Chris O'Grady easily despatched the penalty past Federici. It was Brighton's first away goal in 441 minutes.
Three minutes later, Reading regained their lead. Mackie cut in from the right flank and sent a low left-footed effort sailing past Stockdale. All of Reading's last four goals have been scored by Mackie.
O'Grady did trouble Federici with a well-struck 20-yard attempt in stoppage time but Reading held on for victory.
"We probably didn't deserve anything," Brighton boss Chris Hughton said. "We rallied well in the second half but, after getting back in the game, we then conceded again. That was disappointing.
"It was a hard-fought Championship game with both teams wanting to win. There was a lot of endeavour but they showed better game management than we did. Our intentions were good but, over the 90 minutes, I can't say we deserved to win."
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Jamie Mackie: Celebrates one of his two goals
Steve Clarke enjoyed Reading's "big win" over Brighton and insists his side are not yet thinking about their FA Cup quarter-final replay against Bradford next Monday.
After breaking a losing run of three matches at home with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday evening, Clarke said that the Championship trip to Watford on Saturday was the only matter on his mind.
"That win gives us a lift in the league because that's what we needed," he said. "It was a big win for us. We wanted to make the gap bigger between us and the bottom three. And we deserved to do it.
"Saturday is the next game and we're just preparing for that - that only. It was important to put in a good home performance because we've lost the last three games here and not scored any goals. We showed a lot of grit, determination and character."
The teams went into the game with poor goalscoring records at home and away respectively. Reading had not scored in three successive defeats at the Madejski; Brighton had not scored in four successive away matches.
Reading, who will play Arsenal in the cup semi-finals if they beat Bradford, should have gone ahead early on, when Jake Cooper miscued Garath McCleary's free-kick towards goal. The ball was going in until Jake Forster-Caskey hacked it off the line.
Greg Halford, the former Reading defender, should have done better for Brighton but, when presented with a free header from an Emmanuel Ledesma free-kick, nodded tamely at home goalkeeper Adam Federici.
Reading went ahead in the 24th minute. Jamie Mackie was alert to Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale's poor clearance and, after collecting possession, he ran on to unleash a powerful drive past Stockdale. It was Reading's first home goal in 344 minutes.
Brighton offered little in the first half but were gifted an equaliser in the 53rd minute, when Cooper clumsily pushed Ledesma in the home area. Chris O'Grady easily despatched the penalty past Federici. It was Brighton's first away goal in 441 minutes.
Three minutes later, Reading regained their lead. Mackie cut in from the right flank and sent a low left-footed effort sailing past Stockdale. All of Reading's last four goals have been scored by Mackie.
O'Grady did trouble Federici with a well-struck 20-yard attempt in stoppage time but Reading held on for victory.
"We probably didn't deserve anything," Brighton boss Chris Hughton said. "We rallied well in the second half but, after getting back in the game, we then conceded again. That was disappointing.
"It was a hard-fought Championship game with both teams wanting to win. There was a lot of endeavour but they showed better game management than we did. Our intentions were good but, over the 90 minutes, I can't say we deserved to win."
More...