Jimmy McNulty hails ‘highly complete performance’ as Hatters beat Reading

Stockport manager Jimmy McNulty said his side produced a “highly complete performance” that he “loved watching” as they claimed a 3-1 win over Reading to move level on points with League One leaders Huddersfield.

Goals from Ethan Ennis and Jack Diamond secured all three points for the Hatters after striker Kyle Wootton’s early opener was quickly cancelled out by Royals frontman Jack Marriott.

Victory for County means they now have 29 points and only trail Huddersfield on goal difference, despite having played one game more.

And McNulty was delighted with the display his team put on to get themselves in that position.

“It was a highly complete performance,” he said.

“I do honestly believe there have been many others. Thankfully the scoreline reflected what was a deserved win in my opinion today.

“I think our personality was evident throughout the performance. We started really bravely and were highly aggressive in all aspects of the game.

“Reading played their part in that with whatever they choose to do as a team.

“Every game is like a different conundrum. The last game at home was very different based on the opposition’s choices defensively, so things can look a little different.

“I think it was a highly complete performance with what was requested of us from Reading today to see if we were good enough to do certain things, which we were almost all of the time to be honest.

“And it was a performance that I loved watching.”

Having had 61 per cent of the possession, McNulty said the performance felt “purposeful”.

“I would say we always want to be purposeful, but the opponent plays its part in any given game and dictates what we may think is the most logical (thing) to do with the ball,” he added.

“We played against a very, very good team today and although I’m thrilled with the result for the team, for the players, I’m most grateful for the performance level of the team today.”

Reading have dropped out of the play-off places having fallen from sixth to seventh.

Boss Leam Richardson felt his team, which was heavily depleted by a growing injury list, were too sloppy in possession.

“It was a disappointing result,” he said.

“I thought we were poor first half – I don’t think we looked after the ball, we respected the ball nowhere near as much as we should, especially against a possession-based team, and they’ll make you suffer.

“Like all goals, the goals are poor.

“We scored a goal to get ourselves back into it, then, obviously, people might say we were a little bit better in the second half, but then the game’s at 3-1, so is it easier to play when the game’s at 3-1?

“I thought we looked more in control and looked a little bit more like us.

“We had chances to go and then make a game of it, but it wasn’t to be.”