Stevenage boss Steve Evans has claimed that the English Football League have admitted that they were denied a 'clear and obvious penalty' in Reading's 1-0 win on Tuesday night.

The former Leeds United and Rotherham United boss was fuming with referee Paul Howard on the night, with promotion-chasing Boro feeling hard-done-by on two calls.

However, an own goal and stoic defence was enough for Ruben Selles' team to gain a vital win and lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

Speaking two days after the event, Evans has revealed that EFL officials have since been in contact.

"I had a chat with the referee who was absolutely adamant, as he should be, that they were not penalties," he told the club media. "I don't think he’s have been so hot on that when he got home and looked at them over his Frosties. 

"I think his Frosties might have been half up his nose and half in his mouth as he would have been shellshocked. 

"We sent clips to the EFL on Wednesday morning and the one thing I've always maintained is you get absolute integrity and honesty back from Mike Jones and Steve Dunn and Paul Taylor, real good guys who have officiated at top level. 

"I'll just start with this first paragraph of the e-mail which said at 41 minutes, there is no doubt it's a clear and obvious handball and it's a penalty. We didn’t get it."

Reading won 1-0 against 10-man Boro in August, completing a first league double over a team for over a calendar year.