Reading legend Jem Karacan praised the effort of the Royals team in Monday's 5-2 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.

Promotion-chasing Bolton were too hot for Ruben Selles' side to handle, with Aaron Collins grabbing a hattrick and former Reading striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson hitting a brace at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Lewis Wing and Paul Mukairu scored late in each half, while Jayden Wareham had a header ruled out for offside.

Karacan broke through the youth ranks in Berkshire and played nearly 200 times for the club before leaving in 2015. 

The former Turkey international went on to play professionally until 2021, including a 23-game spell at Bolton from 2016 until 2018.

Speaking on BBC Berkshire, the combative midfielder commented: "You’ve got to look at the facts, Bolton are up there and chasing it. It’s been such a tough season. I was only in a dressing room at Bolton when we were having things about getting paid. I know we’re starting to come out of the back of it but all of that takes its toll. I look at the positives there.

"I know it wasn’t a great day at the office, but I watched many a game in the last two or three years, Paul Ince teams, and I’ve not seen boys putting in a shift or willing to go to the end. today I saw boys trying until the end and that’s all Reading fans can ask for at the moment."

The Royals sit six points clear of the League One relegation zone with five matches remaining.