Red cards were right calls, admits Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber

The Reds followed up their opening day defeat to Luton Town with a 2-0 loss at Reading on Saturday.

Barnsley dominated most of the first half but lost Polish defender Michal Helik in the 42nd minute to a straight red card.

Reading went ahead in the 67th minute through substitute Yakou Meite, who nodded in from close range.

Mads Andersen, Barnsley’s other centre back, was also sent off - for a second yellow - before Michael Olise made it safe for Reading with a 30-yard piledriver.

“I think that the red card decisions were right,” Struber said.

“The decisions from the referee (Tim Robinson) are OK, we have accepted them - even if it is not easy to.

“But in the first half, until the (first) red card, we had the game completely in our hands.

“Especially when we speak about our build-ups, our transitions and our counter-pressings.

“Everyone was very good, everyone knew his task.

“In the end, it is very difficult and very disappointing for every single player that we lose this game.

“From open play, Reading had only one good chance. So it is disappointing that we lost to two set-pieces.

“We had to do a lot of hard work in the second half from everyone and nobody gave up. From a mental point of view, it was a very good performance.

“But from the results in the Championship, we have two games and two defeats. This was not the way or direction that I expected.”

New Reading manager Veljko Paunovic said: “It looks as though we had a good result today but it was very hard, particularly in the moments when we played 11 v 11.

“The opponents were consistent in their style, very intense. And they were winning their battles. But we were matching up with them so I think that we had a very good response.

“We were just starting to get in behind Barnsley and we had challenged them a couple of times. One of those times turned out to be the (first) red card.

“From that moment, we needed to adjust to the new situation.”

Reading: Rafael Cabral, Felipe Araruna, Morrison, Moore, Richards, Rinomhota, Laurent (Meite 59), Olise, Swift (Aluko 83), Ejaria, Joao (Puscas 81). Unused substitutes: McIntyre, Baldock, Southwood, Holmes.

Barnsley: Walton, Sollbauer , Helik, Andersen, Ludewig, Mowatt, Ritzmaier, Jordan Williams, Thomas (Styles 46), Frieser (Schmidt 62), Chaplin (Halme 70). Unused substitutes: Woodrow, Miller, Adeboyejo, Collins.

Referee: T Robinson (West Sussex).

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