READING FC manager Steve Clarke reflected on the 'strange' atmosphere he experienced on Saturday following talks with Fulham a few days earlier, writes Anthony Smith.

Royals chalked up their first Championship win in six matches with a nervy 2-1 home victory against struggling Bolton Wanderers.

It was Clarke's first game in charge since he spoke with Fulham last Wednesday about be coming their next manager, only to turn them down 24 hours later.

The majority of Royals fans reacted angrily to the news of Clarke's interest in talking to the Cottagers on social media, with many questioning his loyalty to the club.

But there was little evidence of any long-term ill feeling towards Clarke during the welcome victory against the Trotters.

Clarke admitted: "It was always going to be a little bit strange for me. But I've got to say that the crowd got it quite right.

"The reception was cool but nothing more than that. And they got right behind the team, which is all we ask for. I don't think it [the Fulham talks] had any effect on the players.

"The result was good in the context of our season. We're desperate to stay in and around the upper levels of the league and challenge for promotion.

"It was a big win for us after five games without a win, it was really important."

Reading could easily have fallen behind in the early stages as Ali Al Habsi made three vital saves to deny Shola Ameobi, Mark Davies and Darren Pratley.

They weathered the storm and broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Lucas Piazon charged down a Prince-Desir Gouano clearance before dinking the ball past goalkeeper Ben Amos.

Royals doubled their lead eight minutes later when Danny Williams punished a back-tracking Bolton defence by aiming a low shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

The Trotters, though, showed plenty of fight and they were unlucky not to score when Ameobi headed against the bar in the second half.

They did reduce the arrears with 10 minutes to go when Pratley was tripped by Norwood in the box and Liam Feeney slammed the spot-kick past Al Habsi for the club's first goal in 408 minutes.

But they were denied a second penalty in the last minute when substitute Gary Madine went down in the area, and Reading held on for all three pionts as Bolton slipped to the foot of the table.

"We could have been three goals up before we shot ourselves in the foot," confessed Bolton boss Neil Lennon. "Al Habsi's made three very good saves.

“The goals we conceded, we just gave them to Reading. They didn't have to work hard for either goal.
"We didn't look like a team at the bottom of the league but I've been saying that for quite a while now.”

Reading travel to Nottingham Forest this Saturday (3pm ko).

  • For Reading FC news and updates on Twitter follow @Smudgersport