Reading FC manager Paul Ince was keen to take plenty of positives despite an opening day defeat to Blackpool.
Callum Connoly’s goal in the ninth minute gave Blackpool all three points at Bloomfield Road, but Ince was satisfied with his team’s performance and believes they deserved more.
“We were a bit passive in the first 10 or 15 minutes and conceded a silly goal.
“Joe (Lumley) makes a great save but we didn’t get to the second ball.
“Last year we probably would have capitulated with that but we didn’t and there was only one team that looked like they were going to win the game.
“I thought we were excellent in the second-half, but things didn’t drop for us.
“Anybody who watched today would have felt we deserved something from the game.
“It’s hard to take positives when you lose, but I’ve taken lots of them.
“The performance was encouraging. If we perform like that in the next 45 games, I will be happy.”
The Royals had just one senior outfield player on the bench as Shane Long came on with seven minutes left in the contest.
Ince continued: “We had Shane Long who has done only one week’s training and the young lads so you can see where we are. We don’t have strength in depth.
“Considering that, the performance they put in was immense and I’m proud of them.
“The system worked well and we got joy. We caused Blackpool a lot of problems.”
