Read every word from Reading FC manager Veljko Paunovic following yet another crushing defeat, this time falling to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of QPR.

On the defeat…

I think that overall it was poor and the result is not good. I must say that between all the goals we played well. Individual mistakes and mistakes as a group cost us the three goals in the first half, that definitely shook us up and we needed to change the approach.

On the shape and tactical approach...

I think when we play with two strikers, it helps us play on the front foot and we create chances. I think until we conceded the first goal we were actually the better side but then after the first goal we very quickly committed a couple more mistakes and they punished us.

I think with two strikers, on the one side when you are capable of converting your opportunities it works well but on the other side we’re vulnerable in defence. 

In the last game we saw that, in this game we saw that, and in the past we saw that so we need to find the right balance. But I believe the team tried their best today, in the second half we stopped the bleeding…obviously the fourth goal is not good…of a set-piece at a moment when the team is down and weak, this kind of thing happens. It’s a moment for us to step in the right direction, start to do the right things, and fix all the mistakes.

I think defensively we are very vulnerable, I think it’s unacceptable so many goals we’ve conceded this year. And it’s consequences of everything…what goes around comes around and that’s what we’re suffering from this month.

No excuses. In defence we weren’t good, in attack we were also poor. We did have a lot of shots, the possession was on our side, but not good enough.

It’s the second time this team has played together so there are things to be done but what looks good is we’ve got a lot of guys back.

On whether things are toxic behind the scenes and around the club...

It could be, definitely. When things are not going well, it’s obvious that everyone will be attacked and be vulnerable. We have to handle it and we have to look to fix everything. I’m not going to raise things that have to be done publicly but we are looking for solutions and we’re looking to fix it (off the pitch). 

On the fans wanting him out...

I understand those feelings, I understand this is football. I have no comments on that. I’m not concerned about my future, I’m a professional who looks to fix things and give my best here. 

On zonal marking...

I think last year we showed that zonal marking works very well, so I think it’s the attitude. We sometimes change, sometimes it works, sometimes not. We always review everything and look to fix whatever we can fix.

On the relegation battle...

It continues to be tough and now we have to go on this difficult run.

On speaking with the owners about the situation at the club...

We always speak about what we have to do, the current situation, and we are looking for solutions. It’s a work in progress even when things are going well. 

On when and how things will change...

Results will tell, I can’t answer that question now. Every game is open, every game gives you opportunities. I think sometimes we just miss and then we pay consequences.

The players are in a difficult situation. Everyone is trying their best, everyone wants to fix the situation, things happen to teams like this when you have this urgency in this moment of a lot of external doubts. It puts more pressure on everyone but I think the players understand it and are capable of reacting. I think the reaction will come soon.

I think they gave their best but things didn’t go our way. 

On how to approach the break before Bristol City…

Sunday could be helpful to calm down and reflect and come back next week looking to improve and fix the team.

On the transfer market…

We are active, there could be somebody coming in. We are active on the defensive side of the team and looking to improve that. 

On Andy Carroll signing for West Brom…

He sent a nice message and he wished us all well. He was very good for us and to be fair we were very good for him.

Andy opened a slot in our squad so that can help bring somebody whether it’s now, the next two days, or in free agency.

On keeping Karl Hein on the bench…

It’s a decision, only one goalkeeper can play. We made the decision, he trained this week, he had a minor issue and we wanted to go with people who knew what they would be facing in this very quick turnaround.

On constantly conceding from crosses and set-pieces…

It’s a little bit of everything. When something is going wrong we tend to train much more on that side. I think it’s not only that, you have to have a mentality, capability, you have to do the job. And just so we understand, the previous question, zonal marking, it’s zonal until the ball starts to move and then you have to defend your zone from the man. Sometimes that works, there is no perfect recipe. I didn’t see a team, except for us, last year who didn’t concede from set-pieces. But we are conceding all kinds of goals, not just from set-pieces.

On crumbling after conceding…

You have to at least during the game, you have to look for the moment when the game calms down and look to give a clear message of recomposing and getting back into the initial shape. Organising, and our goal is to communicate that to the leaders of the team and then it’s for them…it'ss not easy to communicate when the game is so open. 

But it’s something we always remind ourselves of, we are looking to encourage our team when the adversities are…difficult and against us…to deal with it, don’t lose composure. It’s addressed and we’re working.

On where the message is getting lost…

I think it’s obvious that sometimes we have a better opponent and they do their things well.