Obita a doubt for second leg and Stam defends tactics

Reading boss Jaap Stam says he is “not overly worried” by the possibility of losing both captain Paul McShane and goalscorer Jordan Obita for the second leg of their play-off semi-final with Fulham.

McShane is definitely out after he was sent off in the closing stages at Craven Cottage for a knee-high challenge on Kevin McDonald.

Obita, meanwhile, left on a stretcher after twisting his ankle after blocking a cross and will be a major doubt with the return leg just 72 hours away.

Stam said: “Fredericks came bombing forward and he [Obita] tried to block the cross and you can see when there’s no tension in the ankle, you twist it. So we will have to look and see how he feels.

“They are very important for us, Jordan and Macca, but we’ve got a big squad. We’ve got choices and players who can play in those positions, so I’m not overly worried.”

Stam also defended his side’s physical approach in the 1-1 draw, after opposite number Slavisa Jokanovic said they had played “on the limit of the laws”.

The Dutchman insisted: “I think it’s a normal approach. In this league, there are teams who play more physically than we do.

“In these games, you need to be aggressive, you need to win your battles on the pitch – then when you have the ball you need to be a threat going forward.”