Reading boss Paul Ince said his team's performance against Cardiff City was 'outstanding' as they came from behind to win at the SCL Stadium.
Going behind within four minutes, Shane Long and Tom Ince turned the game on its head to secure a first win of the Championship campaign.
After a close-fought defeat at Blackpool last week, the first match in front of a home support could not have ended any better.
READ MORE: Reading FC win first game of the season over Cardiff City
Speaking on the victory, the former England captain said: "I was delighted. It was an extension of where we were against Blackpool, outstanding. I was disappointed with the first goal, home fans and home start I wanted to start fast and get the crowd up but then we give a stupid free kick away and don’t mark our man. This group don’t give in, the response was brilliant, and we got them on the back foot."
Long, making his first SCL Stadium appearance for more than a decade, slotted home from a the spot after a controversial penalty decision.
Dragging Ince down inside the box, the manager was calling for a red card as it was teh last man- but the referee felt otherwise.
"I was disappointed with the decision from the referee," he stated. "I don’t like to see people get off. If we score a penalty and they get 10 men it can be easier, it can be hard, but you’ve got to make the right decisions. It could’ve cost us. The rules baffle me sometimes. These things change games but second half the lads came out and did really well."
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Returning to the topic later in the interview, he added: "It's a blatant, blatant red. There's no if or buts about it. He made a mistake. Referees need to be made accountable and if they make a mistake we can live with that if they hold their hands up. The referee was in a great position to spot it. It would have been interesting if there was VAR because I can guarantee it would have been a red card. You need them to get these decisions right because they’re so important these big decisions. You could make as many mistakes as you want but the major ones you need to get right. He had a good game apart from that."
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