Reading assistant manager James Oliver-Pearce believes that the players are “pushing their bodies” to the limit in a bid to escape League One relegation after a 1-1 draw with Orient.
Orient went ahead in the 19th minute when Tom Holmes carelessly handled in the area and Dan Agyei slotted home the resultant penalty.
But Reading drew level four minutes later, Harvey Knibbs sliding in his 12th goal of the season from close range.
“The guys worked really hard and that’s what we expect them to do, to keep pushing and pushing,” Oliver-Pearce said.
“It’s a non-negotiable for us. You want to win a game of football and if that requires you to put your body on the line, they have to do it.
“I thought that we were excellent in the first 20 minutes. That’s some of the best football we’ve probably played for a while.
“We had lots of momentum and we caused Orient a lot of problems.
“To concede the goal was frustrating. It wasn’t an intentional handball but it was clear for everyone to see. These things happen.
“But our reaction to it was excellent.
“I thought that we were in control for most of the first half and, in the second half, Orient were not just going to continue to let us do what we had been doing.
“We knew things would be difficult and they made us do things that we probably didn’t want to end up doing.
“Both sides probably had a big chance in the second half but I think that, all in all, a point each is a fair reflection.
Reading manager Ruben Selles was unable to speak afterwards due to losing his voice during the game.
“His voice just went,” Oliver-Pearce said. “It wasn’t even a gradual thing. He went to shout and it had just gone.”
Orient are now unbeaten in six games.
“It could have gone either way but I thought that Reading were very good in the first 20 minutes,” Orient head coach Richie Wellens said.
“We had problems with their full backs rotating in.
“We got a bit lucky in going 1-0 up, they were the better team. We needed to change a few things tactically but they scored just when we had changed it.
“But we were pretty good after that, for the rest of the first half, and I thought that we were pretty dominant in the second half.
“We couldn’t go on and win it but Reading have got good players and they are always a threat from the front three.
“I know that Reading have had a lot of issues [off the pitch] but they’re fighting for their manager and they’re fighting for their club. Every credit to them.”
Howe taking plenty of positives despite frustrating Newcastle campaign
Eddie Howe was keen to look at the positives after Newcastle United secured seventh place in the Premier League on Sunday.
Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes were among the goalscorers as Newcastle won 4-2 at Brentford to finish their Premier League campaign.
The victory ensured a seventh-place finish, and a Manchester City victory over Manchester United in next Saturday's FA Cup final will confirm Newcastle's place in next season's Europa Conference League.
While this season did not quite live up to the heroics of last term, which saw the Magpies finish in the Champions League spots, Howe still feels it has been a successful campaign.
"It summed up our season," Howe told BBC Sport. "We weren't totally secure at the back, but great credit to the players. They've done their job - now we wait and see.
"We anticipated after losing against Manchester United that our control of the [European] situation had gone. It's never a nice situation, but whatever happens, happens.
"We have issues to solve defensively. If we can do that, next season could be another season of really strong performances. This was a season that could have been better, but a good season overall.
"We're a really united club. I think we're still moving forward, so there's a lot to be positive about."
Postecoglou will not settle until Tottenham hit his 'lofty ambitions'
Ange Postecoglou warned Tottenham he will not settle until the club hits the "lofty ambitions" targeted in his mind.
Spurs were 3-0 victors over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday, ending their Premier League season with a convincing win to finish fifth in the table.
Postecoglou voiced his frustrations after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City ended their hopes of Champions League football next term.
The Spurs head coach was far more relaxed after his side performed well in Sheffield, with Dejan Kulusevski twice on target, along with a goal for Pedro Porro against the relegated Blades.
Yet Postecoglou insisted his ambitions remain high as the Australian attempts to take Tottenham to the next level.
"Contrary to my general demeanour, I have loved every minute of it," former Celtic boss Postecoglou said of his first season in charge of Tottenham.
"It is a great challenge in the Premier League and taking over a big club that didn't have a great year last year. You understand it is not going to run smoothly, but I have enjoyed the whole season.
"I have got some lofty ambitions for the football club and until we reach that point I am not going to be smiling too much.
"As I said, all any manager wants is maximum effort and I have got that from everyone involved. I have enjoyed it and looking forward to pushing on from here."
Asked to summarise his first campaign in England's top league, Postecoglou continued: "It's been good, it's been eventful, it's had a bit of everything.
"I am obviously not delighted with the way we finished the season but in fairness to the players and staff we have been in the top five all season, in a year where there was a fair bit of upheaval.
"We finished eighth last year, player turnover, different football, different way of training, it is not easy to maintain a level when you are trying to do that.
"Even in our tough periods this year we have still been competitive for the most part."
Kulusevski scored his seventh and eighth Premier League goals of the season (36 outings), more than he managed in his first two league campaigns with Tottenham combined (seven across 48 games).
Only in the 2019-20 season with Parma has the Sweden winger scored more times in a league season (10 in Serie A), and Postecoglou hailed Kulusevski's returns.
He added: "I thought Deki was good. He's worked awfully hard this year without a lot of reward in the front third.
"We thought playing him through middle today would help us with his mobility and ability to run in behind. He did well.
"He always works hard but it's that sort of final third where we need him to get rewards and he got them today so he did well."
Al-Nassr 1-1 Al-Hilal: Mitrovic scores last-gasp penalty
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a penalty in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time as Al-Hilal denied Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr victory in a 1-1 draw.
Mitrovic netted his 27th Saudi Pro League goal of the campaign after Sadio Mane was harshly judged to have fouled Saud Abdulhamid in the area.
Mane stuck out an arm to shield the ball, catching his opponent in the throat, though the contact appeared to have been outside of the box.
Mitrovic made no mistake to keep Al-Hilal's unbeaten campaign going.
The Serbian's spot-kick cancelled out Otavio's first-minute opener, with Ronaldo having set up his compatriot.
Champions Al-Hilal remain 12 points clear of Al-Nassr at the summit of the Pro League standings.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo the provider
Ronaldo leads the scoring charts in Saudi Arabia this season, though he had to settle for an assist on Friday.
That came from the only chance he created, with the 39-year-old limited to 25 touches, though he did have four shots.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
