Charlie Adam bemoaned his teammates’ mentality following Reading FC’s opening day 3-1 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, writes Courtney Friday.

The Owls swooped in on Madejski Stadium to take all three points from Jose Gomes’ toothless side. Kadeem Harris put this visitors ahead in the first-half before Yakou Meite clawed one back for Reading with a fine looping header.

But old habits crept up again as Royals conceded just moments after the equaliser. Owls’ stopper Keiren Westwood was given his marching orders in the 80th minute but rumoured transfer target Lucas Joao added a third for the 10-man visitors deep into stoppage time.

And Adam groaned: “It’s a mentality thing. Players on the pitch have to regroup together and senior players need to help the younger ones. You have to be switched on.

“When you score a goal you have to try and regroup because that’s when you’re at your most vulnerable. “There was probably a lot of hype and excitement about what’s gone on at the club.

"It’s a low moment but we have to react from this.”

Reading had a penalty shout turned down in the first half after what appeared to be a handball on the goal-line, but Adam, who made his debut in the second half following his free transfer in the summer, insisted he had not seen the incident.

The ex-Liverpool FC midfielder continued: “They [Sheffield Wednesday] came here and did a job on us. Plenty of teams are going to do that so we have to learn. “We need to understand when to play and when not to play. There were times when I thought we did well.”

Royals now have a week to prepare before travelling to Hull City next Saturday.