Reading ground out a gutsy 1-0 win over in-form Coventry City to move into the  top half.

Here is every word from Royals boss Paul Ince.

Ince on the match

I’m pleased that we put in a performance, especially in the first half. It’s always tough when you’ve been away for four weeks but I thought we started the game sharp. I said before the game that we needed a fast start and get at this team, we did that very well. Second half we came out poor, we were slow. I’m not sure why. As a manager sometimes you just don’t know. The lads were all ready to go for the second half and for some reason we were slow out of the blocks. When you’re like that, you can get punished. Looking at it overall, it was always going to be a one goal game. The game plan was spot on, and we knew that when they got to our final third, they would have good give-and-go’s and runners, we dealt with that for most of the game. We got a bit fortuitous when they hit the post, but I think on the balance of play it was always going to be a goal either way. You don’t win four games out of five without being a good team. For us, we get the result and at home, it’s a great return.

Ince on Amadou Mbengue

It's great for him. He’s only a 20-year-old kid and he’s got a lot to learn. At times you can see he’s a bit raw but that comes with youth. He’s infectious, he wants to do well, he’s a trier and he’s a good player. For him to get the winner, he’ll be buzzing. The lads love him. He always comes to training with a smile on his face and he doesn’t let things get him down. He’s only going to get better.

Ince on Tom Holmes injury

He headed the back of Gyokeres’ head, and he was fine, but all of a sudden, he felt sick. We had no choice but to take him off. Ideally, we didn’t want to bring Tom McIntyre on so early because he hasn’t played for four weeks, but at Reading needs must. As much as I’m pleased with the result, I’m really pleased that we got Tom McIntyre through the game and gave Naby Sarr 25 minutes. We look like we’re getting stronger.

Ince on use of five substitutes

There’s a realisation of where we’ve been when you, look at the bench with all the kids on there. Now I’m looking on the bench and we’ve got the likes of Naby. When Shane Long came on, he was fantastic. I said to the players that if you ever want an example of someone who’s played in the Premier League and tried to make an impact to show me, he wants to start every week. The impact he made was unbelievable. He’s an example to all of you.

Ince on Femi Azeez

The last three or four months on a Friday we get six or seven a side, now it’s up to 10 a side. It’s horses for courses. We’re not the biggest team so it was important to get Tom McIntyre on. If I’m going to bring someone on to change a game, it will be Lucas [Joao] or Shane [Long]. I was half-thinking about Junior [Hoilett] coming back from the World Cup and getting Femi [Azeez] on there. It’s decisions you have to make as a manager, but he’ll get plenty of time. He’s fit and he’s raring to go.

Ince on World Cup Royals

One minute you go from 18 degrees to this. It’s tough for them, especially emotionally. They equipped themselves well, but you could see them getting tired. I said to them it’s done now, the World Cup is over, it’s England’s time now.

Ince on Birmingham test

We might be able to get Hutch [Sam Hutchinson] back, which will be good. It gives us time to get back on the training ground. It’s been tough because the pitch has been frozen so it’s been hard to get the hours in. The stuff we worked on in Tenerife, they’re starting to get it. That’s what you want, a well-oiled team who know what they’re doing. At times we did that.

Ince on Ovie Ejaria

Ovie is injured, a knock against Brentford in training. He will be a couple of weeks.