Reading striker Noel Hunt has defended gaffe-prone Aussie goalkeeper Adam Federici.

Hunt has leapt to his team-mate's defence following a series of high-profile errors in Reading's opening three games.

He told the Reading Evening Post: "There have been about seven or eight (goalkeeping errors in the Premier League) in the last two weeks.

"The ball moves a lot more than the Mitre balls. (Aston Villa keeper) Shay Given got caught by a header last week, (Chelsea's Petr) Cech got done by us and other keepers have had (problems too).

"I remember the World Cup ball last time. The ball they used was like a balloon.

"It's great for strikers, but not so good for keepers. It's one of those things where they're the victims at the moment.

"Feds has been impeccable, but he's made a couple of mistakes out of about 700 or 800 saves.

"If you compared my mistakes to his I would be out of the door.

"A couple of mistakes doesn't bother me because I know he is a top keeper and he will prove everyone wrong."