Paul Hartley admits Bristol City are going through a 'sticky spell' and insists the rest of the Christmas period now becomes even more important. The Robins have now won just one of their last eight games after Reading substitute Simon Church's stoppage-time goal cancelled out the Scotsman's early penalty. City have a trip to old rivals Queens Park Rangers before they end the year with a home game against Watford. Both teams will know City are vulnerable in the closing stages as their last home win - 3-1 against Plymouth on October 20 - fades further in the memory. Hartley insisted the worrying habit of conceding late on was not weighing on his team-mates' minds. He said: "We can't seem to see a game out when we are leading 1-0, but you have to give Reading credit. I don't think you get into a game and think you are going to lose a late goal. It is just something that happens in football."
Bristol Evening Post

Late goals have cost Bristol City 10 points already this season. Manager Gary Johnson has pledged his side will work "morning, noon and night" to rectify the problem after Reading claimed a 1-1 draw from Ashton Gate with a stoppage-time equaliser. City have conceded 10 goals after the 80th minute but Johnson remains unhappy with the "abuse" he and his colleagues received after the Robins failed to end their two-month-long search for a home win. "Unfortunately, we have got some people out there that don't mind being abusive, let's say. Nobody has got an excuse for that," he said. "We just have, as a club on and off the field, to keep going. We have to try to improve it when we can and we will. We will work morning, noon and night to improve it and see whether we can."
Bristol Evening Post

Simon Church has apologised after going from saint to sinner when he was sent off for his goal celebration at Bristol City meaning he will miss the Boxing Day game against Swansea City. The 21-year-old striker bemoaned referee Mark Hayward's lack of understanding in the emotion of his injury-time equaliser in the 1-1 draw, but admitted it was a harsh lesson for him.
Bracknell Times

Brian McDermott believes he has earned the right to be the next Reading manager, declaring: `it's my time.' Royals' caretaker boss took charge of his first game on Saturday when Simon Church stepped off the bench to score an injury-time equaliser that sealed a deserved 1-1 draw at Bristol City.
Reading Chronicle

Brian McDermott got a sporting boost for his claim to the Reading manager's job - from a Royals managerial legend. Steve Coppell, who led the club into the Premier League for the first time, has been linked with a Madejski Stadium return. But the former England star was more than happy to wish his old chief scout all the best in his first game as caretaker chief following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers. The former Woking and Slough boss said: "I have been a manager before and, after 10 years here, I think it's my time. Steve Coppell texted me to wish me luck and I've spoken to Alan Pardew, who brought me to the club."
The Sun

Simon Church claims referees do not understand the elation of scoring a goal. The young Reading substitute was sent off for celebrating with Royals' fans after flicking home Jimmy Kebe's 90th minute cross to earn caretaker-boss Brian McDermott a point from his first match in charge. Church had been booked for dissent to a linesman while warming-up on the touchline during the first half and saw his goal joy turn to shock as referee Mark Haywood brandished a second yellow card. "I was celebrating with the crowd and got pushed towards our fans by my team-mates," said Church.
Mirror