READING FC manager Ruben Selles labelled his team’s start to the game as ‘uncharacteristic’ as they conceded twice in five minutes in their home defeat to Shrewsbury Town.
Despite the loss, the Royals stay 16th in the table and five points above the relegation zone.
“It is frustrating. It was a very uncharacteristic way to start the game from my team,” said Selles.
“We have not seen that from the team for a long, long time.
“We needed to fight back from that disappointment in the first part of the game. It’s about the way we manage those moments
“We scored two goals, Sam (Smith) with the first one and Kelvin (Ehibhatiomhan). Then a goal from 25 metres and bad defending from the corner kick before half-time.
“In the second half we created situations and in the end it’s very disappointing because of the first six minutes.”
Selles admitted that his team must defend better if they are to pick up points as they were dealt their first home defeat since December.
He continued: “We need to defend better in key actions in the game. It’s very uncharacteristic from us losing five duels in the first action.
“We knew how to solve it but were late in the position, the third goal was the same. It’s about us as a team how we can do better.
We won’t make excuses about the amount of games, it was the same before so we won’t make that excuse.
“We need to learn that if we want to go out of the relegation battle then it’s not enough to do it 90% of the time, we need to do it 100% of the time in every game.”
The royals face a trip up to bottom of the table Carlisle United next Saturday, but the manager admitted that he cannot yet focus on that game after today’s result.
He said: “I am still fuming after the result so I cannot even think about that.”
