Monday, February 27, 2012

Zingarevich sees his signing Jason Roberts net Reading FC winner


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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