JAAP Stam insists he will not abandon his football principles in the wake of a 4-1 mauling at Brentford.

Royals slipped to their joint-heaviest defeat of the season on Tuesday night.

Stam’s men enjoyed the lion’s share of possession once again with 63% to Brentford’s 37%.

But it was the Bees who packed plenty of sting at Griffin Park as they ended Reading’s eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Stam declared: “Sometimes it’s important to lose, although it’s difficult for any manager to say that.

“From games like this, maybe we can learn a lot. It’s not like we have to go back to square one all of a sudden, but from every game you want to learn.

“We had a good run going and we wanted to keep that up, so it’s a shame that unfortunately it didn’t happen for us. It wasn’t good enough from us. They won it, and they deserved it.”

Yet Stam says there is no need to press the panic button and undo all the hard work on the training ground.

“In this division you know it can change in a second, playing against good sides every game,” declared the 44-year-old Dutchman.

“During the season, we will have difficult spells. When that happens, you need to know how to get back up again and win your games again.

“That will be a learning curve for us as well because we have a lot of new players, many who haven’t been playing in this league before now.

“It’s new for everybody. But until now we’ve kept it up and it’s going well.”

Reading are due to welcome back former players Alex Pearce, Nick Blackman and Matej Vydra to Madejski Stadium this Saturday when Derby County pay a visit before a two-week international break (3pm ko).

Rams, who have suspended manager Nigel Pearson following a clash with owner Mel Morris, recorded a much-needed win at Cardiff City on Tuesday night.

“We played against a very good Brentford side – but we now have to look to the game on Saturday at home to Derby,” added Stam.

Reading will be without the services of Tyler Blackett through suspension, but Garath McCleary is expected to go straight back into the starting line-up after serving his three-match ban.

Yakou Meite and Deniss Rakels are unavailable through injury.