Dave Kitson: Ex-Reading striker asks Reading fans to stop tennis ball protests
- Published
Dave Kitson played 159 games for Reading, scoring 62 goals
Former Reading striker Dave Kitson has urged Royals supporters to stop their tennis ball protests as he believes it is "disrupting" the side's younger players.
On Tuesday, the Berkshire side drew 1-1 against local rivals Oxford United at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Reading fans have staged a number of protests in recent months against their owner Dai Yongge.
"The point has been made," said Kitson.
He told BBC Radio Berkshire: "All you are doing is disrupting these kids now, who are trying to start their careers and play."
Supporters also protested in London on Monday, visiting the Houses of Parliament and the English Football League headquarters.
The Sell Before We Dai campaign protested against Reading owner, Dai Yongge in London on Monday
Supporters have protested by throwing tennis balls on to the pitch on different occasions
Energy levels not up to standard
Reading came from a goal behind to secure a point against promotion-chasing Oxford United in the first match between the two sides for 19 years, but Kitson was not impressed with the level of commitment from a number of the Royals players.
He said: "I'm not sure that four Reading lads lying on their backs at the end pretending that they put a shift in was really warranted, I thought it was embarrassing. It's just what's symptomatic of what is wrong with the club, people pretending that they are doing anything.
"I'm embarrassed to watch it, it's toothless. I watch the football and it's academy football, [they] pass it, it looks nice, it looks pretty - it is absolutely spineless. It goes nowhere.
"I'd be amazed if those players broke 12km [running distance]. I know what it takes to win football matches, I know the effort that goes into it.
"If you are tired after that game, you're not fit, it's as simple as that. That annoyed me more than anything in the whole game."
Reading boss Ruben Selles had a different outlook on the performance and was happy with his team.
"It was an equal game. We had a good opponent in front of us and we competed really well, first half arguably better than the second half.
"We are starting to control the key moments of the game. At the end we couldn't win it, but we didn't lose.
"I'm proud of all the work the boys put in on the pitch."
The Royals are second-bottom in League One, four points from safety.