Carlisle United boss Paul Simpson labelled Reading 'one of the best teams we've come up against' following Saturday's 3-1 win at Brunton Park.

The former Derby County and Oxford United favourite was in the headlines during the build-up to the match for comments related to EFL punishments, receiving lots of grief from Royals supporters ahead of the game.

Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs did the damage on the pitch, sending nearly 1,400 travelling supporters back to Berkshire with the three points.

Speaking to the club media after the match, a very honest Simpson said: "I have the say, I think they’re one of the best teams we’ve come up against at home this season. I tried to play them down a little bit in my media this week, trying to take the belief and confidence that we picked up by getting a result at Burton, but the sheer pace and athleticism of them has caused us all sorts of problems."

Reaffirming that statement later in the interview, the former England Under-20s manager added: "We were beaten by a better side today. We were beaten by a more athletic side. They’ve got players who are Championship-level players, players we can only aspire to be able to get to that level where we can get that type of player in. They’re one of the best sides we’ve come up against."

Reading, up to 16th in League One entering the final 10 matches, host Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday in a Berks-Bucks Derby.