JAAP Stam hailed Reading FC kitman Stewart Bannister for his quick thinking during tonight’s FA Cup victory over Stevenage.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s superb hat-trick secured a 3-0 win for the Royals in the third-round replay to set up a trip to Sheffield Wednesday in the next round.

And Bodvarsson’s treble could be the first scored by a player wearing two different kits after a mix-up before kick-off.

There was a clear clash of colours between Royals and Stevenage, even though referee Tim Robinson decided who should wear what.

But players were becoming increasingly confused as the tie wore on, so Bannister drove to Reading’s Hogwood Park training ground to collect their orange away strip, which Royals wore for the second half.

Stam explained: “Before the game I said it was quite strange that both sides were wearing almost the same colours, they were almost identical.

“It was the only shirt Stevenage had apart from a blue one and the referee wouldn’t let them play in blue, so they needed to wear the white one.

“The problem was we were also wearing white so our kitman had to go back to Hogwood to get the stuff and we changed.

“You could see it happening during the game because players were complaining that it was becoming difficult when teams are basically wearing the same colours.

Reading Chronicle:

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Reading wore their home strip in the first half, but it clashed with Stevenage's kit.

“If you need to make a very quick decision on the ball and in the corner of your eye you see a white shirt you want to pass it, but it’s the opposition and you give the ball away.

“In the end we said it was too difficult to play. I have never seen that in football before, but there is always a first time.”

He added: “Stevenage needed to wear a different kit because we had home advantage and should have worn our own kit.

“There was only a week between the games so everybody knew what colours we would be wearing. It should have been arranged beforehand but it didn’t happen.

“Our kitman made the decision to go back and get the orange kit in case players wanted to swap.

“He went back during the game because he was thinking ahead and anticipated the situation. I didn’t send him back, it was his own initiative which you need from people.”

Meanwhile, Stam confirmed Reading are interested in signing Derby County striker Chris Martin during the transfer window.

“I’ve read that. All the strikers in the Championship and Premier League are always mentioned with us," he stated.

“Chris Martin has been mentioned and was also mentioned last season.

“Derby have now bought Cameron Jerome so maybe one of them can go out. He might be a possibility but we need to be sure that if we bring someone in they can make a difference.

“I’m not going to say he is or isn’t the one, but we are looking at what we can do.”