Jones praise for Ross McCormack

Last updated : 04 January 2009 By Michael Morris
City's top scorer has been out of the side for several weeks through injury. His return to the side was timely enough with Michael Chopra ending his loan spell last weekend.

"Ross' contribution was absolutely superb and he scored another goal," said Jones.

"He had been out for a long time and because Michael Chopra went back to Sunderland, we had to play him.

"It's great credit to him to come through the full 90 minutes. I didn't want to play him for that long but Jay Bothroyd had to come off. Peter Whittingham also got 90 minutes under his belt in difficult conditions."

Whittingham played the wide role vacated by Wayne Routledge. The on loan Villa player left Cardiff on Friday morning and signed a permanent deal with Q.P.R.

Full credit to Jones who played his strongest XI and it was nice to see we had 7 senior players on the bench as well. At times earlier in the season, when 5 subs are permitted in League games, we've had to bring in youngsters to fill the spaces.

Reading on the other hand made 8 change to their Championship side resting senior players like the Hunt brothers, Doyle, Duberry and Harper.

When asked about his decision to make wholesale changes Steve Coppell said: "I have to do what is right for my club and our future and my agenda is something else.

"Many of our players had not played for a month and I had to find out which players I can and cannot trust for the rest of the season. I learnt a lot about the young players today.

"Of course, I'm disappointed with the result because I thought we were more than capable of doing well here.

"We gave them a goal through our own inefficiency and then we were chasing the game.

"We have a routine on free-kick situations but we came undone. With our normal personnel we are better than that.

"It was onside and a mistake so we've got no problem with the first goal."