Paul Clement was keen to take the positives from Reading’s 4-1 defeat at West Brom.
The Royals produced an impressive first half display to lead 1-0 at the break through Leandro Bacuna’s strike.
Marc McNulty missed a good chance to double the tally and that proved costly as the Baggies stormed back after the restart with two Dwight Gayle goals as well as strikes from Harvey Barnes and Kyle Bartley sealing victory for the hosts.
“It’s our heaviest defeat of the season but in terms of the way we played, it doesn’t feel like it is,” said Clement.
“The performance, especially in the first half, was really positive.
“We contained them really well, we scored our goal early and we had a couple of other good chances as well.
“We could have come in at the break with a bigger advantage and better scoreline, because we had played well in the first half.”
He added: “I told the players that, because they deserved praise after what they had done in the first half.
“In the second half, they (West Brom) came out and put more intensity into the game and they were more powerful.
“They are a really good side and they’re right at the top of the division. They’re the highest scoring team and they have Premier League quality all over the pitch and we gave them a tough game.
“It is a strange feeling. We’re ultimately on the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat, which is not easy to take, but at the same time we saw some of the best football that we’ve played this season in the first half.”
Reading now have two weeks off before hosting Millwall on October 20.
READING: Walker, Gunter (Sims 77), Ilori, Moore, Blackett, Yiadom, Bacuna (Kelly 81), Ezatolahi, Swift, McNulty (Barrow 77), Meite.
Subs not used: Mannone, Holmes, Rinomhota, Aluko.
Goal: Bacuna (6)
Yellow cards: Swift (51), Ilori (56), Moore (82)
WEST BROM: Johnstone, Dawson, Hegazi, Bartley, Mears (Edwards 62), Livermore (Brunt 67), Barry, Gibbs, Barnes (Adarabioyo 88), Rodriguez, Gayle.
Subs not used: Myhill, Townsend, Hoolahan, Robson-Kanu.
Goals: Gayle x2 (49,65), Barnes (72), Bartley (80)
Yellow cards: Dawson (41), Barry (53)
