JAAP Stam revealed Reading FC learnt some vital lessons from the Fulham debacle following today's 2-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday.

Royals were humbled 5-0 at Craven Cottage a week earlier in their heaviest defeat of the season by some distance.

But Stam's men had the perfect response to the disappointment after a second-half brace from Roy Beerens secured all three points against the Owls, who grabbed an injury-time consolation through Steven Fletcher.

The win means Reading remain third in the Championship table and Stam stated: "Every team loses games at every level, but it's about how you perform in the long run. Can you be consistent?

"Of course we were not happy after the Fulham game because of how we performed.

"It made us aware of certain things and what is needed to get a result in the Championship.

"We spoke about what happened and from Wednesday onwards we focussed on what we needed to bring into today's game.

"We knew Sheffield would be 4-4-2 and play in a certain way, so we trained with that in mind.

"There wasn't a lot of space for us on the pitch to play the ball in behind, but you need to be patient in games like this and if you are don't rush things spaces will open up and you will get that one chance to score.

"We spoke about that at half time and things did open up in the second half.

"We got the first goal with a bit of a lucky deflection then Roy Beerens showed his quality for the second goal.

"Sheffield Wednesday played a different way after that and put ball up to their strikers.

"But our players showed a lot of commitment and worked very well together to get the result."

Reading were hanging on at the death after Fletcher's late goal set up a nervy finish.

But Royals survived thanks to some last-ditch defending and a crucial save from Ali Al-Habsi to deny Adam Reach a last-gasp equaliser.

Stam added: "The last six minutes were a bit nervy and we've had games like that before.

"When it's hard to get out you need to defend well and put you body on the line. That's what we did and we are very happy."

Royals boss also singled out Dutchman Beerens, whose brace took his tally to five goals for the season.

"We know Roy has these qualities, especially when he plays the number 10 position and gets in behind the lines.

"He gets more opportunities there to score a goal than when he plays on the left wing where it is more difficult.

"Physically, he's not the strongest player, but you need to be clever as well and he is."

Reading travel to Leeds United on Tuesday night (7.45pm ko).