Reading fans were beginning to fear Premiership football was a step too far for their side after Boro raced to a two-goal lead after 21 mins, courtesy of Downing and Yakubu. But two quick-fire goals just before half time put the Royals back on level terms and, with ten minutes gone in the second half, Leroy Lita added a third. Reading survived a late scare when a Mark Viduka strike was ruled offside. Boss Steve Coppell paid tribute to his players after the match. "The players have given an awful lot to be here and I knew they wouldn't give it up easily," he told BBC Radio Berkshire's Tim Dellor. "At 2-0 down it was a bit grim but it was almost a signal - just relax, what have we got to lose? "We got a few passes together, a few good things started happening. You could see them grow and begin to express themselves. The goals came at a critical time. "For such an important game in our club's history, to get a result the way we did makes me even more proud." Skipper Graeme Murty was delighted with the atmosphere inside the stadium. "It was fantastic, if the rest of our home games are like that it's going to go a long way to pushing us on. "Steve Sidwell deserves a big mention, I thought he was fantastic today."
Before the game, Reading chairman John Madejski spoke to Tim Dellor about his hopes for the season ahead:
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The chairman said his object was European football. "I always try to aim for the top. Everybody has the same number of points - nought - so it's up to us to go out there and do something wonderful and exciting. "Unless you've got ambition you won't achieve anything." With the score at 2-0 to Middlesbrough, Reading fans leaving messages online were despondent. "This losing is painful, not used to it at all," said one fan. "It doesn't take a genius to work out our team isn't strong enough for the prem," added another." But as the scoreline changed in Reading's favour, so did the tone of fans' responses, with Seol Ki-Hyeon isolated for particular praise. "When we first signed him I questioned why - now it's clear he's a good signing," commented a Royals supporter.
You can find all our interviews with Royals players and management - including the ones mentioned on this page - in our audio archive:
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