JAAP Stam admitted his Reading FC side have major problems at both ends of the pitch following their FA Cup exit at Sheffield Wednesday.

Royals crashed out on Friday night after a 3-1 defeat at Hillsborough in the fourth round.

Atdhe Nuhiu scored in each half and George Boyd added a third before an own goal by Owls keeper Cameron Dawson led to Reading’s late consolation.

However, Stam’s men butchered some gilt-edged chances on the night, with Dave Edwards missing a sitter when 0-0 and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson when 1-0.

Stam confessed: “At times we played quite well and had very good opportunities to score ourselves which we didn’t do.

“We then conceded a silly goal. It was one ball through, a shot on target and Sheffield Wednesday score.

“Basically, every shot on target they had went in. We’ll take a look at the goals. We always talk about a back five and anticipate situations when somebody loses the ball so that you are in the right positions.

“All of their goals came from us losing the ball too easily.

“It’s very disappointing. We talk about what to expect, but it still happens.”

Stam went with two strikers against Jos Luhukay’s Wednesday as Yann Kermorgant and Bodvarsson both started.

It was Bodvarsson’s hat-trick that helped Royals see off Stevenage in a third-round replay to set up the trip to Hillsborough.

Reading Chronicle:

Reading manager Jaap Stam.

Stam explained: “I thought we did quite well for the first hour and created opportunities. If you are winning you can say it is working, but it’s clear we need to do better because Wednesday scored three.

“We had five or six clear opportunities to score, so you could say it worked in terms of creating chances.

“It’s not like we are missing things of purpose, but we just need to be more clinical in every way and we need to defend better and anticipate situations better.

“You could see at times that there is joy in the way we play and create opportunities. But when you concede those goals you can see heads drop a bit and there is disappointment.

“We need to keep on going, stick to the system and communicate on the pitch.”

Luhukay complimented Reading on their performance and admitted the difference between the teams was that Owls took their opportunities.

"Reading gave us problems in the first half, they had a couple of chances but we have a fantastic goalkeeper,” he confessed.

"In the right moments, we took our chances to score.”

Finally, Reading fans at Hillsborough stayed with their team right until the final whistle, prompting Stam to declare: “They were very good. We’re very happy they came and we feel sorry for them for going all that way to support us.

“It’s a big compliment to them.”

Stam’s men now face a crunch relegation six-pointer at Championship basement boys Burton Albion on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

Royals are without a win in eight Championship matches including five defeats, have failed to score in their last three league fixtures and sit 18th in the table, just four points above the drop zone.

Their five losses in that run include a 2-1 home defeat to Nigel Clough’s Brewers at Madejski Stadium in December.