Reading FC manager Paul Ince said his team were ‘brought back down to earth’ after a heavy defeat against Sheffield United.
The Royals came into the game at Bramall Lane in top spot but were knocked off their perch after a humbling defeat.
After going down 1-0 early in the first-half, Reading started the second-half in awful fashion by going 2-0 down within moments of the restart.
The Blades then added two more to seal a comfortable 4-0 victory to take Reading’s place at the top of the Championship.
“We looked tired and out on our feet and couldn’t get to grips with the game,” said Ince.
“They’re a very good side and will be up there. They took off a £20million striker and brought on another £20million striker, that’s the difference .
“I’m not too disappointed. In a perverse type of way I’m quite happy because the fact of the matter is all the talk about the top of the table rubbish, we need to get our heads out our arses and start to deliver.
“Our levels have to be constantly right to stay in this league and we didn’t do that tonight.
“The intensity and energy wasn’t there. When you’ve got a threadbare squad that can happen.”
Despite the defeat, Ince was keen to reflect on a positive start to the season for his team which sees them in fifth after seven matches on 12 points.
He continued: “If you’d offered me nine points from 12 against Blackburn, Boro, Millwall and Sheffield United I would have bitten your hand off.
“We’ve had a very good four games and need to keep picking up points.
“It’s brought us down to realisation where we are as a club. Sometimes games like this bring you back down to earth.
“It’s disappointing for the fans because it’s a long journey back and we wanted to please them.
“Sometimes when you get off to a good start people get ahead of themselves and this has brought us back down to earth to realise we are a team with a threadbare squad.
“Today we didn’t compete and hence why we got beat.”
