Reading FC manager Veljko Paunovic was left frustrated that his side failed to secure three points against ten-man Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. 

A goal from Lucas Joao looked to have set Reading up for a comeback win, but a resolute defensive display from the hosts was enough to keep Reading at bay in the second half. 

Paunovic said: "I think we had a good game and we should've won. 

"I'm disappointed, it was a good opportunity for us but we also have to acknowledge that the team played until the end and tried very hard.

"We didn't foul, we didn't give them opportunities - until we got tired and gave them a few long throw ins.

"That was one of the tools they used and we were ready for it, we defended well and I think we had an overall very good performance - but not enough to win the game. We've got to learn from this.

"It was a great opportunity [to climb the table] but we will use the anger and disappointment to bounce back. We want to be in the best possible shape for our fans on Saturday."

Paunovic refused to blame the referee for his side failing to secure all three points at Hillsborough, but did state that he believes referee Oliver Langford should 'hold himself accountable'.

"We're not going to blame anyone, no officiating or possible penalties that were maybe involved in the game in our favour. We have to look at how we performed and what we controlled.

"To be honest, I didn't want to look at it [the replays of the penalty claims] but I've heard from the people in the changing room that at least two could've been clear penalties.

"I didn't want to be affected. It's not the first time, we're never going to complain - but I think [the referee] he has to keep himself accountable as we do as coaches. We expect the same from everyone.

"You cannot help the reaction of the players as they start to go to the referee. You don't know what has to happen to get the call, but I'm not going to go down that road. 

"VAR would probably be helpful. This league is good enough, strong enough and followed around the world. I have a bunch of messages and everyone is asking why don't have VAR.

"If you have VAR, you have another point of information that could be helpful."

The Royals boss challenged his players to be more clinical in front of goal in upcoming matches having said that their hard work failed to reap rewards against Wednesday.

"We had momentum so we had opportunities, but we weren't rewarded for our hard work and the game plan we had.

"We were very close and on the verge of scoring the goal which would have opened them up and break them down.

"That's what we were chasing. We're still learning and growing as a team and today is a big learning moment for us. We had patience and did what we wanted to do.

"In those moments we had those goalscoring moments. we had to be more calm in the goalscoring moments and be more clinical."