Harper: Madness Cost Us

Last updated : 11 August 2002 By Rob Cooper
James Harper celebrates his strike against Cambridge last September
James Harper celebrates his strike against Cambridge last September
James Harper came out with an honest assessment of the Royals 3-0 defeat at Derby after the match - ten minutes of madness cost them the game.

Following Sammy Igoe's substitution in the sixtieth minute the Royals reverted to a 4-4-2 formation. Poor defending saw a defence, that had done well to hold firm up until that point, collapse, conceding three goals in eleven minutes.

According to Harper, the former Arsenal reserve team midfielder, Reading will be doing everything in their power to put things right against Sheffield Wednesday next Tuesday.

Following the game Harps told readingfc.co.uk: "For the first forty-five minutes I was happy but we had a ten minute spell of madness which cost us. It was only when we went two or three goals behind that we really started playing. It just didn't happen for us today.

"Derby are a good team, we knew that, beforehand, but that ten minute patch of madness cost us, maybe we didn't believe in ourselves as much as we should have. That ten minute patch was not so good - we've got things to work on.

"The home games are mightily important, today we've seen how difficult it is to get a victory away. Sheffield Wednesday are a good team so it'll be hard but we're looking for a good result. Everyone will be motivated - it should be a good game."

Meanwhile, Royals striker Nicky Forster, who missed yesterday's game, may have to sit out of Tuesday's fixture as well. Fozzy has been in bed for the past week now, trying to fighting a persistant viral infection.