THE LAST LAUGH FOR INCE AFTER FANS' JEERS

READING boss Paul Ince was surprised by the negative reaction from travelling fans to the second half substitutions which helped gain a battling point at Ashton Gate.

- Richard Latham

With their team trailing, Royals supporters behind a goal chanted “you don’t know what you’re doing” when Ince sent on Lucas Joao and Femi Azeez as 61st-minute substitutes for Nesta Guinness-Walker and Femi Azeez.

The jeers turned to cheers when Joao rose to nod a 72nd-minute equaliser from Andy Carroll’s powerful header across goal.

That cancelled out Tommy Conway’s left-footed strike for City in first-half stoppage time and earned a valuable draw for a team with a six-point penalty hanging over their heads.

Ince said: “If we all pull together, we are capable of achieving something special this season.

“If we don’t, we will be relegated. I thought the team were tiring on a heavy pitch and I don’t know what the fans expected with the options I had on the bench.