Coppell delighted with Doyle

Coppell happy with strikers, Jewell rues miss

Last updated: 8th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Coppell delighted with Doyle

Coppell: Happy with strikers

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Steve Coppell praised Kevin Doyle following the win over Derby, while Paul Jewell had no complaints with the result.

Doyle was the hero for Reading at the Madejski Stadium with two goals in the 3-0 win.

Noel Hunt scored the other goal for Reading and Coppell believes having a goal threat in attack is key to their aspirations of winning promotion back to the Premier League.

Coppell concedes all the speculation over Doyle's future affected his early season form, but with the Republic of Ireland international recently signing a new deal, Coppell expects big things of the former Cork man.

"There is so much discussion away from the green stuff these days in football," said Coppell.

"All the talk in the summer didn't do Kevin's form any favours at the start of the season, and the concentration on football is so important.

"But he's made a commitment to us now - and he won't be diverted away by speculation.

"Where he'll end up now will be down to how he plays - and he's certainly doing well at the minute.

"We've got combinations now up there. 'Doyler' is scoring consistently - and so is Noel.

"I always say in this division you need two strikers who can score you 40 goals - and I think we have that here."

After Hunt had headed in brother Stephen's corner to give the hosts the lead, Derby winger Kris Commons wasted a great chance to equalise and Coppell admitted it was a crucial point in the game.

Test

"Derby had only been beaten once in 11 and they looked very solid to me on paper," added Coppell.

"We knew it would be a stiff test, and that is what it proved to be.

"The first goal came from nothing; it was a corner, but not one we have worked on.

"We knew we'd have to push on - and we did. The Commons chance was critical - because if he'd scored that it might have been different. But from then on, we looked good."

Jewell had few complaints but also felt the chance spurned by Commons proved to be decisive.

"The best team won. They are a top side, and I think they'll get promotion," commented Jewell.

"They are strong and quick - and once they got the second goal, they closed it off well.

"But you don't get chances like that away from home very often - and you have to take them."

Loan hint

Jewell also hinted he will move into the loan market, after seeing former West Brom centre-half Martin Albrechtsen limp off with a calf strain in the second half.

"We have been hammered with injuries at centre-half this season and we have now lost Martin Albrechtsen with a calf strain," said Jewell.

"He could be out for a while, so I will be looking at getting someone in on loan.

"I said before the game I thought we could gauge our improvement against Reading - and we have evidently still got a long way to go."