JOHN Swift backed Reading FC boss Paul Clement to pick the right team despite being left out of his latest starting line-up.

Clement recalled Swift for Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Brentford in which the ex-Chelsea midfielder scored one and set up the other for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.

But Royals boss went with Liam Kelly on Tuesday night and dropped 23-year-old Swift to the bench for the 1-0 home defeat to lowly QPR.

It was a move than angered plenty of fans, though Swift refused to criticise his manager’s decision.

“I think that was down to having two games in quick succession,” argued Swift. “It’s what the gaffer has to deal with to pick a team he thinks can win.

“Obviously I was happy to have contributed at Brentford. I had cramp during the game, so it’s not like it’s going to keep me out like injuries did last season.

“Maybe that was the reason (he left me out), so I’ll just concentrate on making a contribution when I come on in games.”

Swift, though, was clearly angered by the QPR defeat and Reading’s worring lack of consistency.

“It’s a bit like two steps forward and one back at the moment,” he admitted. “It was tough to go from the Brentford performance to the one on Tuesday night.

“I can’t put my finger on why and it’s hard to see what’s going on from the bench a lot of the time. It was tough for the boys, but we could have dealt with things a bit better.

Reading Chronicle:

John Swift punches the air in delight after scoring at Griffin Park - only to be left out of the next starting line-up.

“We’re a newish squad. We’re doing well together on the training pitch.

“Some games we’re putting that to use and in other we aren’t and we conceded sloppy goals.

“We also need to be a bit more clinical in front of goal. It’s something we’ve got to look at, train hard and hopefully bounce back with three points at West Brom this weekend.”

He added: “The mood is up and down at the moment. We had two good results, we should have won at Brentford and then we lost to QPR.

“We’ve got another game now and we have to move on. We know we could have done better but all we can do now is work hard on the training pitch.”

Royals will be massive underdogs for the clash against the Darren Moore’s Baggies at the Hawthorns this Saturday (3pm ko).

Swift said: “It will be a really hard test for us.

“They’re right up there, they have good players and it’s a difficult place to go.

“But we said the same about Brentford and we should have won there.”