Reading manager Steve Clarke has revealed that he was "devastated" with his side's defeat to Derby County on Tuesday night.
The Royals came into the game having not suffered defeat in the league since the opening day, and were looking for their third successive victory, having convincingly beaten Ipswich Town 5-1 at the weekend.
However, Orlando Sa's red card in first half stoppage time for violent conduct put them on the back foot, which Derby capitalised on, with Tom Ince scoring the only goal of the game 21 minutes from time after his side had struggled to contain their opponents early on.
Clarke frustrated with result
Speaking to the Reading Chronicle, Clarke admitted that he was "devastated" with the defeat as his side were on "a really good run." He continued, saying that, "when [that] runs end, you want it to end in the right way," however, for his team, "it didn't."
The manager revealed that he "didn't see the incident" which resulted in Sa's dismissal, and hadn't seen it since either, but dubbed it as "a key moment in the game" nonetheless and "a mistake," as going down to 10 men "cost [his side] dearly."
He believes that the team "wouldn't have lost that game...if the numbers had been even," saying that it's "difficult" enough to play in the Championship "11 versus 11", especially against "one of the top teams" like Derby.
Still, he believes his side will "learn" from the loss, and couldn't fault the players, saying he was in fact "disappointed" for them as they all put in "a tremendous effort."
Reading's good performance makes defeat even harder to swallow
What made the result even more frustrating for Clarke, is that Reading were the better team up until the red card incident.
Derby, who have struggled in general this season, drawing four, losing one and winning just two of their opening fixtures, struggled to deal with the confident Royals in the first half, with them always "on the front foot."
Though "it wasn't an open game" and quite "cagey" to start, something Clarke put down to the way Derby played, with them "keep[ing] it tight and not [giving] much away," he believes Reading "shaded the first half" and looked the "most likely to win."
The manager continued to praise the performance, saying that his team "played some really good football," "always looked a threat going forward" and "didn't concede too many chances."
Even when they were a goal and a man down, Clarke praised his side, saying that they "dug in" and "kept going," even having "a couple of half chances near the end." Thus, he believes they "deserved a little bit more than the result."
Still, he remained upbeat, saying that the team will "start working again," ahead of Saturday's match against Bristol City, and go to Ashton Gate "looking for three points" and "to bounce back."