Reading boss Paul Ince questioned his players' mentality following their 3-0 defeat to Sunderland.

Two quick goals before the break and another with 20 minutes to go set the seal on a disappointing evening at the SCL Stadium.

A first home defeat of the campaign for the Royals, manager Ince believed his players did not train well enough during the week and has thrown their mentality into question.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the loss, he said: "We had no intensity. Second balls and in possession we were sloppy. We looked tired and not our normal selves. I sensed in the last couple of days in training that we’ve been sloppy, and our attitude has not been right. I feel that because we are where we are, we’re all getting over the top and above our station. In a peverse way it brings us back down to Earth."

"We started off well and maybe everyone got a bit complacent thinking other things. You can’t do that, and the way we played today I was disappointed."

Conceding another three goals, on top of the two times they've conceded four so far this campaign, the ability to stay in the game is another point raised by the former England captain.

"We’ve got this knack that when we lose two goals we capitulate", he explained. "Mentally we’ve become weak. If it’s 2-1 or 1-1 and we’ve got fight, then great but we saw it against Rotherham and Sheffield United and today. We’ve got to learn, we can’t just capitulate in games, we have to fight."