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."
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