Paul Ince described Tuesday night’s defeat to Swansea as ‘really, really frustrating’ after his side spurned a two-goal lead.
Goals from Yakou Meite and Tom Ince against the run of play saw the Royals storm ahead.
However, a Harry Darling header before half-time gave the home side the encouragement they needed to stage a comeback. Goals from Ollie Cooper and Jay Fulton ensured Reading made the journey back to Berkshire empty-handed.
Ince said: “To concede the goal at that time in the first half gave them a lift. You sense the fans were getting frustrated and that was the plan.
“[I’m] really, really frustrated because I think the boys gave everything again. They’re playing well, the performance was good.
“Every time we make an error, we’re getting punished. I’m not sure if the errors are [coming] because we’re tired. I’m asking my players, all 13, 14 of them to play every week at 100 percent.”
Ince departed from the Lucas Joao-Andy Carroll pairing which had led the line in recent weeks, preferring the pace of Meite and [Tom] Ince up top.
The manager said the adjustment ‘worked a treat’ as the Royals stormed into a two-goal lead.
He added it was the manner of the defeat which hurt the most, with his side failing to capitalise on their good early work.
He said: “We put ourselves in a great position to claim three against a very good side and we’ve come away with nothing, so that’s frustrating.
“I’m disappointed because the fans came here, it’s a long journey down here and I’m disappointed for the players because they’ve given everything.”
Skipper Andy Yiadom was forced off in the 56th minute after a heavy collision with a Swansea player.
Ince explained: “It’s an elbow in the face, how the referee can’t see it baffles me. It’s a sending off for sure.
“I’m not sure on the Thomas one with the goalkeeper [Benda]. I think Thomas got there first but Yiadom got booked anyway – his fifth booking.
“He’s suspended for Saturday’s game against Bristol, which is a blow, but we go with what we go. You know where we are as a club so we just keep plugging along. We need to pick something up on Saturday.”
Yiadom’s injury leaves the Royals short at the back, with Scott Dann, Liam Moore, Naby Sarr and Sam Hutchinson already ruled out.
“I’m down to Tom Holmes and Tom McIntyre. That’s going to be an issue, but this is where we are as a club, with the embargo, it’s where we are with injuries.
“Tom Holmes came in and he’s had the flu [for the] last couple of days. We’re a team with a great spirit and we’ll try and win every game, so that’s what we’ll try to do on Saturday.”
