Reading FC manager Paul Ince admitted that he ‘got it wrong’ in the first half of the incredible 4-4 draw with Swansea City at the SCL Stadium.

After going 1-0 up inside three minutes, the Royals were 3-1 down at half-time and 4-1 down with half an hour to go but fought back to draw 4-4 with a last-minute equaliser from Academy graduate Tom McIntyre.

Speaking to the media after the game, Royals manager Paul Ince felt that he got his early tactics wrong against the upwardly mobile Swans.

He said: “I think I got it wrong, from a tactical point of view. I said to hold off them and nick the ball off them, but I think we sat off them too much, we took it too literally. When you allow a very good Swansea team to pick their head up you’re in trouble. So I hold my hands up I got it totally wrong.

“We got off to a great start. I’m not sure it was a penalty, but I couldn’t see it. We got the penalty and go 1-0 up.

“I’m going in at halftime thinking the lads were down, but they weren’t. The spirit and togetherness was there, they know where we’re at and know we can get back into games. Coming in at 3-1 there was still belief that we would get back into the game.

“We started the second half very well, on the front foot, and then they break away and get the fourth- and as a manager you start thinking about goal difference. You could sense there was a belief around the stadium and the players.

“It got to 4-2 and they started to wonder, two goals aren’t enough. We looked like the only team getting the next goal. We had a couple of great chances before with Lucas and Junior, and once we got the third it was game on. We’ve seen this movie before, with Tommy Mac. He’s just asked me for a goal bonus but he’s not getting on. The fans believed and we believed.

“I’m proud of them today, the fans got us back into it, the fans were immense. We talked on Friday about the togetherness with the away fans who travelled to Sheffield, I was glad to bring it back here and have the connection with the fans because it’s something that is missing from football. You don’t want to be doing 4-4 every game but it’s about bringing more fans into the stadium and sending them home with smiles on their faces. They’ll go to work tomorrow with smiles on their faces and that’s all we can do.”