READING FC boss Jaap Stam claimed the 2-0 defeat to Leeds United was one of the best performances he has seen from his side.

Royals slumped to their second successive defeat on the road despite boasting 77% of possession throughout Tuesday night's game.

Yet the clinical hosts made Reading pay through goals from Chris Wood and Souleymane Doukara.

But Stam insisted he was pleased with his team’s display at Elland Road, claiming they deserved at least a point.

“We played very, very well - maybe one of our best games actually,” asserted the Dutchman.

“In how we play, you’re not going to get 10 or 15 chances - but you’re always going to get a couple of chances during the game, especially if teams are going to play like Leeds did.

“We could have created more. But we were dominant throughout - we have dominated games for a half or an hour before, but we dominated for the full 90 minutes. We created chances, we just needed to score the goal.

“We should have scored before they took the lead - and then you need to be sharp in defence because you know if you lose the ball they are going to want to counter attack quickly.

“If you’re not aggressive enough in that one moment, you give that goal away, they score and you know its’ going to be even more difficult.”

Royals pressed for an equaliser late in the second half, and Stam even resorted to throwing on centre-back Jake Cooper as a makeshift striker.

But they could not quite force a breakthrough and were punished at the other end when Chris Gunter tripped Charlie Taylor in the box to give away a spot kick which Doukara converted.

“Towards the end we tried to force it,” declared Stam. "We were going forward and trying to score that equaliser.

"But the referee didn’t give a throw in, they won the penalty, 2-0 and it’s all over.

“We deserved more, but you don’t always get what you deserve. The only thing that disappointed me tonight however, was the result.”

Reading head back up north to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday (3pm ko).