March 17 2003

Trevor Francis

Trevor Francis was understandably disappointed at losing to a 90th minute winner at Reading and admits the play-offs are now unlikely.

He said: "In the first half the match had seven or eight chances and really some of the finishing was diabolical. I couldn't understand how it was 0-0 at the break.

"To lose the game to such a late goal was a massive disappointment. We were guilty of giving away possession too easily in a game which we could have got a well-earned point.

"We did well to get back in the game with a well taken goal. My philosophy in every match is to win but there are some matches when you have to settle for a point and this would have been one of them.

"We had a strong offensive bench but due to injuries to Tony Popovic, Steven Thomson and Cedric Berthelin I could not utilise the subs how I would of liked.

"We did have a number of forwards on the pitch though which made did in turn make it difficult to keep the game tight.

"After this result it is now highly unlikely that we will reach the play-offs but even though I am a realist you do have to believe that you have a chance whilst it is mathmatically possible."