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Jaap Stam ‘Everybody is expecting a lot from Newcastle…’

8 years ago
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The games come thick and fast, next up is Jaap Stam and his Reading team.

The former Manchester United star brings his players to St James Park after mixed fortunes in their opening matches.

A 1-0 home win over Preston, then followed by a 2-0 defeat at Wolves this past weekend.

However, Jaap Stam indicates that all the pressure is on the home side, saying that the expectations on NUFC mean that the opposition ‘can play quite freely’ – something which was very evident with Huddersfield who counter-attacked with numbers and purpose, well worth their two goals.

Stam says ‘everybody is expecting a lot from Newcastle’ and he knows ‘they will be wanting to win their next game’.

Whilst Wednesday night isn’t likely to quite match the 52,000 in St James Park against Huddersfield, it is sure to be the biggest crowd Reading will play in front of this season in the Championship.

Despite this, Jaap Stam isn’t expecting problems, saying that he has told his players that the Newcastle fans aren’t on the pitch ‘…only in the stands where they can’t harm you!’.

Jaap Stam speaking to the official Reading club website:

“Everybody is expecting a lot from Newcastle.

“There is a lot of pressure on them, which means that normally the other teams who are playing Newcastle can play quite freely and can make it easier for their opponent.

“They will be wanting to win their next game which is with us on the Wednesday.

“We need to look back on their games so far this season, look at the clips and we’re going to go there to try and get a result.

“We can take some of the lessons from Wolves into the next game.

“Most of the players have played in big stadiums and in difficult atmospheres, and, as I’ve said to them, the (Newcastle) fans are not on the pitch, they’re only in the stands where they can’t harm you!

“In football you need to play our own game, do what you do best and eventually you’ll get a result.”

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