Royals manager Mark Bowen said that he was left 'staggered' by Reading's performance after Reading fell to an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic.

Goals from Michael Jacobs, Kieffer Moore and Jamal Lowe gave the struggling Latics a well deserved victory at the Madejski Stadium. 

Speaking after the game, Mark Bowen launched a tirade against his players for their performance in the defeat.

"I'm quite staggered. Tonight is one of those times that I told the players it was absolutely unnacceptable what was produced.

"My job is to take this club forward and I will do that until the last breathe in my body to do so. 

"Tonight, I thought we were out-bagttled, outplayed, out everything tonight. It's unnaceptable and we need to get a change on Saturday. You need desire, application and braveness - I do not know where that performance came from." 

Mark Bowen said that there 'may be' a fear from the players about playing at home - following another disappointing result at the Madejski Stadium.

"Maybe there is. But, the players need to rise above that. I promise the fans we will have a different application on Saturday.

"In front of your own fans, you have to get on the ball and be brave when things aren't going well. I saw people didn't really want to get on the ball.

"I don't blame the crowd for their reaction, in a ideal world it doesn't help but I fully sympathise with them." 

Bowen rejected claims that Saturday's game against Barnsley is a 'must-win' game. 

"We won't go down this year and we will get stronger, the building process has to go on.

"It's not a must-win game. The only must win game is the last game of the season and if we lose it, we go down."