Royals boss Mark Bowen praised his sides response to a disappointing midweek result after Saturday's resounding home triumph over Barnsley.

Goals from Yakou Meite and George Puscas gave Reading their first home triumph since Boxing Day. 

Speaking after the game, Bowen said that he was 'praying' for things to go Reading's way today after Wednesday's disappointment.

"I have to say, it was important after Wednesday to put that to bed. It was unnacceptable. 

"Today was all about getting the result to give the dressing room a bit of confidence and stability.

"I was saying a little prayer that things were going to go our way today and it did with Yakou's goal.

"It was a bit scrappy but it gave everyone a bit of calmness and confidence.

"We weren’t as flowing as we can be, but every team goes though periods where you lose confidence.

"You have to make sure your decision making is right and bang out results."

Bowen made five changes to the starting XI - a decision which he explained after the final whistle. 

"It was in my mind on Thursday mornign that we needed to freshen things up. I looked at it, after Wednesday, any one out of ten [players] could've been left out and they knew that.

"I wanted to freshen things up, people coming into the game after Wednesday perhaps with a little less mental baggage.

"I think it made a difference today. We can be better, but the new faces gave us a bit of an edge today."

Matt Miazga returned to the starting lineup after an injury absence and manager Mark Bowen highlighted his performance post match.

“A special mention for Matt, he’s had six weeks out with injury and today it looked like he had never been away.

“Credit to him for his mental toughness and to the staff that have worked with him to get him in the shape after not a lot of training sessions.

"He showed the qualities he has got today.”

Bowen also highlighted George Puscas' performance, as he challenged the striker to keep improving in a Royals shirt.

“George got his goal and it took it very well. He’s a goalscorer. He’s working on his link play and build up play, he can be better at that and he knows that. We have to give him the right opportunities.

“Like all strikers, you live and die by your goals. He knows and we know we’ve got to work on his all round game and that has to improve.

"But he showed he’s got real good finishing qualities.”