BURTON ALBION

Garratt, Brayford, Carter, Bostwick, Earl, Parker (Rowe 62), Edwards, Broom (Powell 62), Clare (Hamer 62), Smith (Taylor 82), Akins (Fondop 70). Subs not used: O’hara, Mancienne.

READING manager Veljko Paunovic labelled his side’s display in their 2-0 Championship defeat against Middlesbrough as “unacceptable”.

Although Reading started brightly, fellow play-off chasers Boro moved 2-0 ahead before halftime through smart finishes from Ashley Fletcher and Marc Bola.

Reading dominated much of the second period but Boro proved resilient at the back and held on for a comfortable win.

It was the Berkshire side’s third successive home defeat.

“We can’t afford to lose these games at home,” Paunovic said. “Sure, we don’t have the advantage of supporters, but we have to do better to control our environment here. So there is still a certain advantage in that. But, today, this was unacceptable. I am not happy with it.

“I also have to say, though, that we have to stay calm. We have to look to improve. And we have to make sure that we don’t start to become bitter about this or throw things on each other.

“At this stage of the season, and with the results around the league today, we can see that everyone is fighting for their lives and for their objectives. There were many scores around that weren’t expected so more credit to this league and all the competitors.

“We have to look at the reasons why we didn’t have a good start today. We looked a little bit too relaxed and not like we usually are at the beginning of our games.

“In the second half, we had a good reaction. I wish we’d done that at the start of the first half.

“We had more structure and we created more opportunity. Unfortunately, we didn’t create enough clear opportunities. Had that happened, I’m sure we would have been closer to drawing the game.”