(Picture: Action Images)
Reading midfielder Danny Williams has defended his teammate Gareth McCleary after he was sent off in Saturday's hard fought victory at Barnsley.
The Royals raced into a two goal lead, with McCleary thumping in the rebound from his saved penalty and John Swift sweetly curling home a second during a brilliant opening half hour for Jaap Stam's men.
However, just minutes after Swift doubled the lead, McCleary was given his marching orders for shoving Tykes captain Cono Hourihane to the ground after he had fouled Williams.
The Jamaican international's departure meant Reading had to play over an hour with ten men, but despite earning criticism from some, Williams stood by his teammate.
The American said: “I didn't see what happened at the time but their number eight (Hourihane) was on my case from minute one,” he said.
“He fouled me and then he said some nasty words to me so G [McCleary] just helped me out.
“Obviously you shouldn't do it but sometimes I think the referees need to have a better understanding of those sort of situations.
“The crowd at Barnsley were very intense and I think the referee got a bit intimidated. G has got a three-game ban now and we will miss him.”
In the end, Reading managed to hold on for victory, extending their unbeaten run to six games, despite Adam Armstrong's brilliant, low half volley making it a nervy last eleven minutes.
Goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi brillinatly denied Armstrong an equaliser right at the death, with his left hand just strong enough to turn the Newcastle loanee's effort past the post, and Williams said the win was particularly sweet.
He said: “Wins like that taste even better because we had to dig deep,” said the 27-year-old. “Last season I think we would have probably given it away. We would have conceded in the last minute.
“But this season it seems like we win in the last minute or we make an important challenge like Tyler did at the end.
“”And I think you can see that we are fighting for each other. It's not about me, it's not about G – it's about the team.”
