Reading boss disputes red card in defeat at Fulham

Reading boss Jaap Stam insisted Danny Williams should not have been sent off in their 5-0 defeat at Fulham but admitted his side were second best.

Williams saw red following a brief and innocuous looking tussle with a prone Stefan Johansen on the byline, with referee Oliver Langford adjudging the Royals midfielder had kicked out.

Stam said: “I think Danny had tried to kick it out and he tumbled, the player from Fulham [Johansen] fell on top of him.

“I don’t think Danny deliberately kicked him in the chest. He could have touched him but I don’t think it’s a red card.”

However, Stam said his side – who had won their previous five matches – were not good enough collectively or individually.

“We spoke about Fulham and the system that they play, but if you’re not switched on yourself, then you make it a bit easier for the opposition,” he said.

“They played well, they’ve got a lot of quality in the squad.

“Everybody who played today can do a better job. Most of the players were too soft and not good enough on the ball.”