The Royals picked up a point against automatic-promotion-chasing Bradford City in a 1-1 draw at the SCL Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors took an early lead through Jake Beesley before Udoka Godwin-Malife equalised for Reading in the second half to ensure the points were shared.
Here is what Royals boss Leam Richardson had to say when he spoke to Royals TV after the game.
Richardson on the performance
“I think for 70 minutes I was really pleased. I thought we were the better team and in control.
“Once we scored, for whatever reason, we seemed to take a little bit of a backwards step and started making different decisions, which I’m disappointed with.
“We controlled so many large parts of it and did a lot of good things, and then when we scored, we seemed to start making different decisions. It’s something we’ll look at and something we’ll address.”
Richardson on turning performances into results
“I think the level of performance that we’ve delivered now across eight league games and four cup games has been at a good level.
“There’s still room for improvement in what we do, and we’ve got to start turning these performances into really positive results now.
“We’re unbeaten in a number of games and we’ve got some good individual performers at the minute, so the longer we can keep that going, the better. We will evolve.”
Richardson on where the team can improve
“There are so many more positives to take. It’s better standing here and playing really well, while still looking to get better and trying to turn certain draws into wins and wins into stronger wins.
“We’re always trying to get better in certain areas. I’m trying to get better all the time and trying to lead the team to get better, because our metrics and our numbers at the minute are very good.
“The players want to get better as well, which is great. I’ve got a really good group of players who are trying so hard. We’ve had another really strong training week and it’s a game where, when we score, we should go on and win.”
Richardson on responding to the early goal
“I thought we started the game well. I think it was their first attack. It’s a diagonal ball which he kind of mis-hits, and then we don’t defend the box as well as we’d like.
“From there, I thought we responded really well. We probably played large parts of the game in their half. It’s just in the final third where we need to be a little bit better, have stronger decision-making and probably stronger connections within that.
“But that’ll come. Again, I thought we came out in the second half and were excellent. We started the second half terrifically well for 20 or 25 minutes, scored a good goal and probably deserved to score.
“From my point of view, you then want to go and win the game, stay strong and keep controlling it. But we played long too quickly and too soon for whatever reason, and that’s something we’ll look at.
“You’re playing the team top of the league, competing very well, and we’re disappointed not to come away with the win.”
Richardson on matching Bradford physically
“They’ve been together now for two or two-and-a-half years, with the same team doing the same thing and the same repetitive habits, so you can see that you’ve got to compete.
“Again, we should’ve had a penalty. Possibly the lad should get sent off with the reckless tackle on the halfway line, but we’re used to seeing that at the minute, aren’t we? I’m sure Mike Jones will get another apology on Monday morning.
“But we’ve got to control what we can control.”
Richardson on Jack Marriott’s injury
“It’s disappointing. He obviously got a knock last week and felt it over the weekend. We thought we could manage it, get through the week and he’d be better, but at the start of the week it apparently wasn’t great.
“He went for a scan in the middle part of the week and then, towards the latter part, we found out it’s his ankle ligaments and things aren’t great from the challenge against Wycombe.
“So Jack will be out for a number of weeks.
“But somebody else’s disappointment is somebody else’s opportunity. Jacob Brown, Reidy, Stokesy – that’s why we tried really hard in the summer to evolve this squad.
“That’s why transfer windows are so important, so when people are called upon they can take their opportunities.”
Richardson on Udoka Godwin-Malife
“Excellent. Exactly what I thought when I wanted to recruit him. We spoke to a lot of people, especially his last manager and lads who have worked with him and played with him.
“First and foremost, he’s a fantastic person. Really good in the dressing room, a really good teammate and he wants to learn tactically.
“I think you’ve seen really strong improvements in him already in this infancy of the season, and he’ll get better and better.
“I’m made up for him because I’ve been giving him a little bit of stick about contributing more goals. He should have scored a couple, certainly from set plays.
“He’s in the right area today and technically I thought it was excellent. For 75 or 80 minutes, I thought he was excellent, and then he started to make a few indifferent decisions.
“But that’s something we’ll work on and something we’ll get better at. This group of players are trying, they want to be successful, they’re very, very good to work with and I think there’s a lot left in this group.”