Stevenage boss Steve Evans has admitted that his team's 1-0 defeat to Reading was 'tough to take' and believes that his side 'dominated' the match at the Lamex Stadium.

Any kind of spectacle was ruined by torrential rain and Vadaine Oliver's first-half own goal was enough to win the game for the Royals and lift them out of the relegation zone.

However, promotion-chasing Boro had chances and two strong penalty appeals waved away.

Speaking to the club media, the controversial Scot said: 'We have two clear penalties in the game not given. One for a handball in the first half and the second for a reckless challenge on Ben Thompson. We’ve just looked back on the big screen and they’re clear.

'You can see what it means to beat little Stevenage. It was World Cup stuff at the end. That’s part of football and we have to watch that when we don’t win the game.'

Only Reading's second away win of the season, and first on a midweek with spectators since 2018, it lifted the club outside the bottom four.

Quizzed a bit further on Reading, the former Leeds United and Rotherham United manager added: "They’re brilliant supporters. They’re very passionate on the bench. I’ve got no issue with that. I think there are lines you don’t cross, and I think it was probably not by Ruben, but it was crossed by one or two of his backroom staff to my staff and my players.

"They’re a club that are fighting for their survival in League One under a treacherous owner- that’s the only way I can describe him considering he took over from John Madejski. He ran his club with absolute class. From that point of view, I’ve got no more interest in Reading."

Beating the Hertfordshire-based club in August, it is Reading's first 'double' of the season.