Veljko Paunovic

Veljko Paunovic had been working with his players for only two weeks when he inspired Reading to a promising start to the 2020/21 Championship season. They won six and drew one of their first seven league fixtures before travelling to Blackburn Rovers, who with 16 goals in seven matches were then the competition's leading goalscorers.

Despite Blackburn representing a significant test, Reading scored after only eight seconds, took control after conceding a quick equalising goal to lead 3-1 at half-time, and ultimately won 4-2. Speaking exclusively to The Coaches' Voice, Paunovic revisits the secrets to their success, including his bold decision to organise his team into a four-diamond-two, having previously used a 4-2-3-1 in an excellent start to the season.

Starting line-ups

BlackburnReading

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Blackburn4-3-3

ReadingFour-Diamond-Two

13Aynsley Pears

33Barbosa Rafael Cabral

24Joe Rankin-Costello

2Tomás Lago Pontes Esteves

26Darragh Lenihan

4Michael Morrison

3Derrick Williams

6Liam Moore

15Barry Douglas

3Omar Richards

29Corry Evans

28Josh Laurent

10Lewis Holtby

8Andy Rinomhota

19Tom Trybull

30Alfa Semedo

16Harvey Elliott

7Michael Olise

20Ben Brereton

11Yakou Meite

7Adam Armstrong

18Lucas João

Author: Tony Hodson