Reading conceded an early penalty and lost 1-0 to Millwall.

Here is every word from boss Paul Ince.

Ince on the game

One mistake. That was it. It was always going to be a scruffy game, because that’s the way Millwall make it. I said to the players that the last thing you want to do is give a team like Millwall a goal, because they will just defend for their lives. That’s exactly how it went. We lose the ball in a comfortable position, don’t do enough and give a penalty away. That’s the basis of why we lost the game. It was a scruffy game, horrible game, they make it that way. The referee doesn’t help, stopping and starting it. The only disappointing thing was that we didn’t have a shot on target, which isn’t like us at home. That’s the bottom line. I can’t say the players haven’t given their all.

In the second half we were in the ascendancy and looked the only team likely to score but we’re not getting the rub of the green. The quality of crossing today was poor. I’ve got no qualms, it was exactly how I expected- it won’t go down as a classic with the way they played. I said to the players that they’re not a better team than you. They just do the basics right, get the goal- they did that a couple of weeks ago against Stoke with one shot on target. They defend very well for their lives and there’s no other way to analyse the game.

Ince on the mistake

We made the mistake, we’re not individuals. We made a mistake against Sheffield United on Tuesday and again today. It wasn’t like they cut us open. It feels like every time we make a mistake, we get punished. That’s two teams in the top six who have not been better than us, far from it, but we’ve come away with nothing and that’s disappointing, especially at home. I’ve said to the lads that they’re not a better team than you, maybe they do the basics right for a longer period of time but that’s what happens when you have the players and the quality that they have. They can do it week-in and week-out, we don’t. We have these slips where we do stupid things, and you get punished. That’s the difference today and Tuesday.

Ince on lack of shot on target

You’ve seen our team, there’s 36 games gone. Our creativity comes from Thomas, that’s the bottom line. That’s where we are. If you look at us all season, we’re not going to be one who scores three and fours, but yes we’ll have our moments. When you talk about creativity, it always comes from Thomas and that’s the way it is going to be for the next 10 games, we can’t change it. That’s where we are. You’ve got 10 games now, you’re on the final run so we have to reset. We have to play Blackburn on Wednesday but until Burnley come in April probably the last of the top six. Then it’s all the teams around us that I expect us to pick points up. It’s been a tough two or three weeks, the top teams in the league. It’s not that we’re not as good as them on our day, we have just shown that we are, we just have to be more ruthless and create more chances. This is where we are as a team at the moment. The boys were great and showed a lot of endeavour. They played on Tuesday, which was a tough game, and you can’t fault that. We have to keep the spirit up. I’m not sitting here doom and gloom; you’ve competed against two teams in the top six.

Ince on injury news

Scott Dann is out with a hamstring, Yids has done his ankle and Tom McIntyre has done his ankle, so back to the bare bones.

Ince on Liam Moore

I think he did well, I was pleased with his performance and the reaction he got from the fans. What happened with him is gone, we have to move forward. We all have to stick together. If we do get these six points it will be a tough 10 games so we have to stick together. I’m not one who likes fans booing their own players, I don’t think it’s right, but today he got 45 unscathed. With Scott Dann’s injury it’s probably come at the right time, not to say we could throw him in as he’s been out for a year. We have to be careful.