Campbell | On perfect hat-trick, Reading victory and goalscoring targets

Although pleased to have notched a perfect hat-trick, Chem Campbell admits he was happier to help Wolves under-23s to another victory in Premier League 2 as the side push for a place in the Division 2 play-offs.

The Welsh winger put the old gold in control at Aggborough having followed up his early left-footed strike with a header just after the half-hour mark. He completed his perfect trio when he curled an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner of the net with 20 minutes remaining.

However, Reading fought back with two late goals to close the deficit, but Campbell was glad the team were able to hold on to three valuable points.

On victory over the Royals

“It was a good night. We all put 100 per cent in, we all played well, apart from the last 10 minutes or so when we could have killed the game, but other than that it was a good performance.

“We made it hard for ourselves at the end, but when you’re 4-1 up, you’ve just got to try and see the game out – win your headers, win your second balls, but I think we dropped off a little bit towards the end and had to hang on when we didn’t need to.

“But in the end, we got the three points so it was a good win.”

On the game plan ahead of kick-off

“We did see their last result [7-0 loss to Forest] and that gave us a little boost, but we knew it wasn’t going to be easy because they’re a big, physical team.

“We were just told to make the runs in behind and in the first 10, just try to go a bit longer and then we can play our football. I think that definitely worked in the first-half.

“We went quite long first and then everything slowed down, we controlled the game and it worked for us, as I think our quality showed and we won the game.”

On scoring a perfect hat-trick

“I’ve not had many of those in my career, not at all. Arriving in the box is something I’ve been trying to work on and it happened with the first goal, and the second as well with the header.

“It looked like I was probably trying to put it back across, but I did try to put it back in that far corner, and luckily it went in.

“I didn’t realise until the free-kick went in that it was a perfect hat-trick, but I’m just glad we got the three points and are fighting for the play-offs and that helps today with the win.”

On his favourite of the three goals

“I would say the first one. It wasn’t easy and it was on my weaker left foot, so I had to try and hit it first time and try to keep it down, so I would say that.

“But the third one is a good free-kick and I was happy with it. We had a little discussion but I’ve got two goals, I was trying to get a third, and I just felt it, and just happy it went in.”

On setting goalscoring targets for the season

“Not really, I’m just taking each game as it comes. I’m trying to have more shots and I probably could have had even more shots today and more goals, but I’ve got the three, so I can’t really complain.”

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