Gus Poyet felt Albion played some good stuff at Reading.

But he admitted missed chances and the denial of a penalty cost them dear in the 3-0 defeat.

Poyet said: “Reading started well, as expected. They got a goal from an action they work well.

“We normally do better in those defensive situations but it's football, it happens.

“After 20 minutes I think we dominated, even the first half.

“It was the best we played on the ball for a while. We just need to hit the target and that was the only message at half-time.

“The difference as well was the second goal.

“The players kept believing. We created more chances than in the last six months, they were all inside the six-yard box, there is an incredible penalty that everybody saw, all the fans, except the linesman.

“So I cannot ask the players for more.”

The penalty row involved what looked like a shove by Andy Griffin on Craig Mackail-Smith right in front of the Reading goal.

Poyet added: “On another day we go on and win it or we get a point or we finish playing 11 versus ten for once because, if it's a penalty, it's a red card.”