Reading 3-0 Hull City: Nigel Adkins slams 'terrible' Tigers as Royals get first home win

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Hull City manager Nigel AdkinsImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Nigel Adkins' side have lost five of their last seven matches in all competitions

Hull City boss Nigel Adkins says his side were "terrible" in their 3-0 loss at his former club Reading - the Royals' first Championship home win since April.

Sam Baldock reacted fastest to put the hosts in front after David Marshall had kept out Leandro Bacuna's attempt, before Jon Dadi Bodvarsson tapped home to make it 2-0 in the second half.

Andy Yiadom's first Reading goal, a neat finish from inside the area, made the points safe with nine minutes left - although the Royals ended the game with 10 men as defender John O'Shea was shown a straight red card for a foul on Chris Martin.

"For me, the players have been really good this season, but today's performance was nowhere near the level it has been," Adkins told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We gifted Reading the impetus because we were nowhere near close enough on the one-on-one duels on the field of play."

Victory for Reading, who had lost each of their past five games at the Madejski Stadium, will ease some of the growing pressure on manager Paul Clement.

The win, only Clement's fifth victory in 19 games as boss, lifted the Royals out of the Championship relegation zone after nine games.

Hull did have the ball in the net three times during the match, with Todd Kane and then Fraizer Campbell each flagged offside before a late Kamil Grosicki consolation was ruled out for handball.

Reading's Sam BaldockImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Reading striker Sam Baldock opened the scoring from close range in the fourth minute

Adkins' side are now 21st and enduring their own poor run of form - they have won just twice this season and face the division's top two teams, Leeds and Middlesbrough, in their next two games before going to fourth-placed Sheffield United.

"This was a big week, there were nine points up for grabs," added Adkins, whose side lost at Wigan on Tuesday having beaten winless Ipswich seven days ago.

"On paper this was a better run of games than the next three we've got.

"The players are well aware they've got to knuckle down, but for me that first half performance set the tone of the game."

Reading assistant manager Nigel Gibbs told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"A first home win, three goals and more importantly a clean sheet.

"The players really worked hard for that and we're delighted after Wednesday's game (a 2-1 loss at home to Norwich City).

"The biggest thing about Wednesday was the first half, the players were so disappointed and the players wanted to put that right.

"From the first whistle the intent was there, the intensity was there, we got the early goal and that settled us down."

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