Paul Jewell felt his side were unfortunate to lose their New Year's Eve fixture 1-0 at Reading, the Blues boss again left ruing Town’s frailty at set pieces.

Jewell said: “In the first half, after the first 10 minutes, I thought we were the better team. I think one goal was always going to decide it. In the second half it was a bit of a scrappy game.

“Before the match we emphasised the importance of set plays. We got done against Reading at home and the same lad, Alex Pearce, scored again today. Certainly on our first half performance we should have got something out of the game.”

The fragility at set pieces remains a frustration: “We’re disappointed with the lack of concentration. That’s what it’s about — concentration. We’ve let them have a free header from a freekick which that was unnecessary. Lee Bowyer didn’t mean to handball it.

“It’s disappointing to lose a game in any way but to come to a place where it’s tough to come and with Reading on a good run, the first goal was going to be vital.”

Jewell thought the home crowd played a role in winning their side the freekick which led to the goal: “They do say they’re the 13th man here and they were shouting for handball all the time.

“I couldn’t see from my vantage point but I certainly know it wasn’t intentional, whatever it was. We were disappointed to concede the goal in that way.”

The Town boss was pleased with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who came into the side for the injured Jason Scotland: “I thought in the first half he was a real threat to them. We peppered their goal in the first half and had plenty of opportunities but we couldn’t get the elusive goal.

“I’m disappointed because we conceded and because the players put in good effort and a good shift and certainly in the first half we were the better team. In the second half it was scrappy with two honest teams and we just couldn’t break them down.”

The Blues will be without Ibrahima Sonko for Monday’s home game with Nottingham Forest, the Senegalese international having picked up his fifth booking of the season the day before the cut-off point with 10 cautions leading to a ban from tomorrow.

Jewell says he will assess his options at New Year’s Day training: “Sonko got booked so Ívar Ingimarsson and Tommy Smith will come into contention.

“We’re back to work tomorrow and we’ll see how we are. Ívar’s been training for a couple of weeks now since his broken nose.”

The Liverpudlian says Jason Scotland is a doubt for Monday’s game: “Jason had a tight hamstring and came off against Leicester on Monday.

"He was in for treatment and he trained yesterday morning. When he upped his training he could feel it and you can’t take a risk with a hamstring."

Jewell has ruled Keith Andrews out of Monday’s match, although he wasn’t entirely dismissing the Republic of Ireland international’s chances of being fit for the following game, confirming that he is available under the terms of his loan: “Keith can play against Hull in the FA Cup, he’s been given permission to play by Blackburn, and we’ll have to wait and see how he is.

“There’s a week to go as yet, so we don’t want to erase anyone with a week to go, it’s not as if it’s a broken leg, it’s a hamstring.”

Despite this, Andrews appears unlikely to be involved at the KC Stadium with his torn hamstring expected to sideline him for four to five weeks.

Reece Wabara, who was on the bench for the Blues today, returns to Manchester City tomorrow with Town not planning on extending the defender's stay.

Reading boss Brian McDermott was delighted with the spirit shown by his side in what he felt was a “terrific” display: “In the first half we didn’t play well, we know that, but what we have got is real heart in that dressing room and that showed today.

“We dug in and kept a clean sheet and managed to win it from a set play. When I say it was a terrific performance, it was terrific for reasons other than real quality.”

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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