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| Anton Zingarevich |
By Jonny
Fordham
getreading
February 18,
2012
Anton Zingarevich saw January signing Jason Roberts hit
his third goal in four games as Reading defeated Burnley 1-0 to move into third
place.
The 29-year-old millionaire, head of in-coming owners
Thames Sports Investment, was at Madejski Stadium alongside Chairman Sir John
Madejski on Friday night.
In a tense and tight game the Russian was up and down in
his seat in the directors' box like a true fan.
And he jumped to life when Roberts, the man signed with
his cash, scored the crucial 11th minute goal soon after Charlie Austin rattled
the woodwork.
"I don't know how his heart rate will be after the
game," joked manager Brian McDermott.
"He will now get used to those games! I'm sure he
enjoyed it; he will certainly have enjoyed the victory.
"He's a very nice man. He's under the radar, a
quiet man who loves his football.
"He came in about 4 or 5 o'clock and had a good
look around the stadium. It's good for him to watch the game, see the stadium
and the training ground - everything we're about.
"If you're in another country you're just hearing
other people talk about it and not feeling the environment. It's important for
him to feel the environment. The environment, to me, is excellent."
Skipper Jobi McAnuff was back for the hosts after groin
surgery and it was his cross that teed-up Roberts for the winner.
"He kept his eye on it, watched it right onto his
left foot, and looped it over the goalkeeper," said McDermott.
"I've been waiting a long time to get Jason
Roberts. I remember seeing his debut at 17 years of age and he's now...well
he's older than 17!
"The way he brings people into the game, everything
about him, the younger forwards at our club now look at him and see what he
does both on and off the pitch.
"He's a really good role model for everybody around
the club. And he's got three goals in four games so that speaks for itself.
"He's got so much to offer - you can see what he
brings to the table. He's a really, really good person and a very good footballer.
We're so pleased to have him here."
Some resolute defending from Reading kept them in the
game and Adam Federici also made a superb one-on-one save from Jay Rodriguez
early in the second half.
Rodriguez couldn't add to his 18 goals and he too was
also denied by the woodwork.
They're a good side Burnley, so that's a really big win
that one," added McDermott.
"They're as good a side as I've seen come to
Madejski this season, but we've got a team who knows how to win games.
"That's three games in a week and we've got three
wins, nine points, three clean sheets. We have to be pleased with that.
"We had chances, they had chances. And I think the
team earned some good fortune with the effort they put in tonight, from back to
front."
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