Reading boss Paul Ince praised his players after battling to a 1-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

Losing 3-0 at home to Sunderland in midweek, Ince demanded a reaction in Lancashire and his son Tom came up with the goods as he curled a free-kick directly into the back of the net.

It could've been more comfortable had Ince and Yakou Meite converted chances later in the half, but they defended valiantly to earn a clean sheet before the international break. 

Speaking to BBC Berkshire after the match, the former England captain said: "I said to the players that we needed a response this weekend and we seem to do that, after Sheffield United and Rotherham games there has been a reaction from my players.

READ MORE: Reading FC beat Wigan Athletic to return to winning ways

"It doesn’t always mean you’re going to get a result but there was a reaction, and that’s all we can ask for. We had our fans come a long way, three to four hours, and it’s great to send them down the motorway with three points and a performance. We got a bit fortunate, Wyke hit one over the bar and Callum Lang missed one, but we had two absolute sitters where Thomas [Ince] should score with the header and Yak [Yakou Meite] should score.

"I’ve said to them as much as I’m pleased with the result, I’m not happy with the fact that we don’t kill teams off. Those chances kill the game off and we didn’t, we could’ve paid for that at the end."

Now with 10 days off before hosting Huddersfield Town on Saturday, October 1, key stars are on their way back to fitness giving Ince a stronger squad to work with.

"In the next two weeks we’ll probably have Ovie back, Naby back and Andy Carroll will be fitter, Shane Long we will have to see," the Manchester United legend explained.

"I’m delighted. We’ve got people coming back which will take two weeks, Andy Carroll is doing some running so another week or two weeks before he’s ready. This is a well-earned rest for the players. We’ve got 10 games with more or less the same players every game, and that takes some doing. You can understand that they get tired and start to drop back. What these players have achieved has been amazing, so they need a well-earned rest."