READING FC boss Jaap Stam insisted his players must share responsibility for the 1-0 defeat to Bristol City.

Royals wasted a string of chances before City centre-back Aden Flint cracked home an 84th minute winner.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, looking to build on his goal in the win at Birmingham City, squandered at least three excellent opportunities himself including a second-half sitter.

But Stam insisted recent Wolves signing Bodvarsson was not solely to blame for the defeat which ended Royals’ 13-match unbeaten home league record.

“Everyone was disappointed, not only Jon,” said Stam in his post-match press conference. “It wasn’t only him who missed a couple of chances, other players also did.

“We could have made better decisions at times to create even more opportunities, but it’s not all about one player.

“Everybody takes responsibility in front or goal or when they are making that final pass.”

Reading Chronicle:

Jaap Stam organises his troops against Bristol City.

Debutant Sone Aluko, Mo Barrow, Liam Kelly and Paul McShane all spurned decent chances for the home side before Flint’s late sucker-punch saw City end their seven-match losing streak against Reading.

Stam admitted: “We had plenty of opportunities to score, it’s all about scoring.

“It’s a cliché but you see a lot of games where one team has a lot of opportunities they don’t finish off then the opposition score.

“We knew what to expect from Bristol City. They didn’t want to let us play and get into our comfort zone which they did well at times.

“But when we create very good opportunities like we did you need to score. When you don’t it becomes very hard not to give anything away yourself.

“Bristol City had one very good chance in the second half then scored from the set piece. It’s hard to lose like this but it’s about scoring goals. If you don’t then it’s difficult.

“The positive is we are creating opportunities but eventually you need to tap them in. We need to work on that.”

Stam failed to bring in another striker to add to Bodvarsson’s arrival during the transfer window.

But the Dutchman says that was not to blame for today’s defeat.

“These things happen, you have days like this,” he continued. “Last season we had games where Yann Kermorgant or someone else didn’t score.

“Bristol City were also threatening and physical going forward so we had to be aware of that. It’s hard to stop a side from having a single chance in 95 minutes.

“Credit to Bristol City, they fought for it and went for it.”

Reading Chronicle:

Bristol City celebrate Aden Flint's winning goal.

Robins boss Lee Johnson was relieved to see City defender Nathan Baker receive a yellow card from referee James Linington for a foul on Barrow shortly before half-time.

And Stam suggested it could easily have been red as Baker denied Barrow a clear run at goal.

“From my points of view it was a red,” argued Royals’ boss. “He (Barrow) was through and if he hadn’t been fouled it was a one-v-one and he could have scored.

“I don’t know how it looked from the stand, but it’s not up to me. The referee had to make a quick decision so it’s not easy.

“But if Barrow had gone on, he has a lot of pace so nobody would have tracked him.”

Meanwhile, Stam confirmed midfielder Kelly was taken off in the second half after picking up a calf strain.

“He got a knock on his calf and it was getting worse,” added Stam. “He couldn’t give his best any more so there was risk of a worse injury.”