JAAP Stam argued Reading FC were the better team in their 0-0 home draw with Championship leaders Newcastle United.

Rafa Benitez’s side are on course for an immediate return to the Premier League and have already won at promotion-rivals Huddersfield Town and Brighton in the past week.

But there was no third away victory in the space of a seven days for the Toon Army as Royals grabbed a deserve point to remain fifth in the table and comfortably in the play-offs.

Stam’s men were even a whisker away from snatching all three points deep into injury-time when Garath McCleary hit the crossbar, though Matt Ritchie had also struck the woodwork for Newcastle in the first half.

Nevertheless, Stam felt Royals edged it on the night in front of the Madejski Stadium’s biggest crowd of the season of 23,121.

The Dutchman said: “I thought we played very well. We were patient on the ball against a side like Newcastle who came here for a result by playing very defensively and on the counter attack.

“It’s hard to create chances when it’s like that and you need to be patient on the ball.

“They almost hurt us a couple of times in the first half when we lost the ball because they have a lot of quality up front.

“But we did okay in the first half, took the warning and we totally dominated the second half and the rest of the game.

“We kept control, kept our composure and let Newcastle do the running.

“Newcastle don’t give a lot of chances away but we should have scored one in the second half.

“We didn’t do that but I was very happy with the performance of the team.

“I thought we looked stronger tonight that Newcastle did.”

The stalemate saw Newcastle’s lead at the top cut to three points after second-placed Brighton won at Rotherham, though Stam believes Benitez’s side have all the ingredients needed to win the title.

“They’re a quality side, they don’t give a lot of chances away and they are always a threat up front,” he added.

“It’s important for them that they don’t lose against top teams in the league and I think they’ll do well.”

However, when asked who the best side are to have visited Madejski Stadium this season he replied: “Brentford and Fulham because of how they play and the composure of their team.

"They are both very good, it’s how I like to play football.”

Meanwhile, Benitez was not too disappointed with the draw following earlier wins at Huddersfield and Brighton in the past week.

“To go and play these three games away and get seven points is quite good and quite impressive from the players,” said the Spaniard.

“I am really pleased for the away fans. They go away with smiles on their faces.

“We had enough chances to win it. The chances we had were so clear we could have won it in the end.”

Finally, Stam confirmed Liam Moore’s hamstring injury will be assessed tomorrow, but he is almost certain to miss Saturday’s trip to Preston.

The centre-back limped off early in the second half with a hamstring injury, and Stam explained: “Liam has a problem with his hamstring. He’s been very important for us throughout the season, he’s been a rock in defence.

“He brings a lot to the team and it’s a shame that he is out. We will see how bad his injury is then decide what to do.

“It was a shame when he had to come off. If had stayed on then maybe I would have changed something up front but sometimes it goes like that.

“We’ve played different systems all season whether 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 and we pay a lot of attention to that in training so we know what to do in most situations.”