Reading FC

• Nickname:
• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

• Ground:
• Capacity:NaN

Coppell rues Royals loss

02 Apr 2007 - 08:32:18

Click To Enlarge

Reading boss Steve Coppell was left disappointed after seeing his side lose out 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane as a result of a controversial penalty.

Referee Alan Wiley ruined Greg Halford's full debut for the Royals by penalising him for handball shortly before half-time, despite the ball deflecting up on to his arm from close range off Spurs forward Robbie Keane, who then converted the spot-kick.

Coppell said afterwards: "It is a shame for Greg that this game will be remembered for the penalty rather than his other contributions, but I was pleased with his debut in such a theatre of football.

"I think Greg's reaction was just involuntary. When it hit his hand I think he just panicked and it hit him again.

"But you see things in games where the ball is smashed into players from a yard away, hits them on the hand, and a penalty is given."

Coppell was also left waiting on the prognosis of a hip injury that forced goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann off at half-time.

"Marcus has done something to his hip. He doesn't know how he's done it and he felt it on Saturday in training," Coppell revealed.

"He wanted to go out in the second half and give it a go and I just thought well, what's the point, when I know I've got a good deputy in Adam Federici - as he showed in the second half."