LIAM Moore insisted there are plenty of positives for Reading FC to take from tonight’s 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Swansea City.

Second-half goals from Alfie Mawson and substitute Jordan Ayew sent Paul Clement’s Swans into the fourth round.

Royals threatened several times before Swansea took the lead but failed to finish off a number of chances on a night Jaap Stam started the match without a recognised striker.

Moore said: “We were disappointed not to get a goal, but there were so many positives to take from tonight.

“I thought the lads played well, created some good chances and we stood up well to a Premier League team. I thought we looked good out there.

“Both teams showed a lot of respect for the competition, you could tell both wanted to progress.

“Ultimately we’re very disappointed because it was a good chance for us to kick on and try and go as far as we can.

“But we went out fighting tonight and the lads can be proud of the performance.”

He added: “There were a couple of balls into the box that were screaming for someone to get on the end of which was disappointing.

“But we’ve got to look at the positives. We’ve got a couple of massive games coming up and ultimately our main aim is to do well in the Championship.

“If we can build on tonight’s performance I’m sure we’ll be fine.

“It was promising in places. The lads saw it as a chance to test themselves against an established Premier League team.

“We stood up well to Swansea but we need to take our chances, though maybe that’s been said a little too much.”

Stam’s men now turn their attention back to the Championship and a home fixture against Hull City this Saturday (3pm ko).

And Moore is confident the wins will soon come for the Royals, who dropped to 18th in the table after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford.

“It would have been nice to have a good cup run,” said the former Leicester City defender. “We have got a big squad so it’s great for those lads who haven’t had many minutes on the pitch to play in these games.

“But the Championship is our bread and butter and we’ve got to get ourselves high up that league table.

“Everyone at the club fully believes we can do that, we’ve just got turn these performances into wins.

“If you look at the table now it’s disappointing but put it into perspective. Our away form is better and while we were disappointed not to win at Brentford on Saturday, last season we would have been out of touch by half time.

“We’re shoring things up more and more, we’re improving and we’re harder to beat.

“When the injured players come back I’m sure we will be right up there.”