Boss Mick McCarthy was delighted with his side’s opening day performance at Reading, despite the Royals coming from behind to win 2-1.

McCarthy felt his team were playing well and on top having gone ahead through Jay Tabb’s first ever goal at his old home ground: “We were comfortable, I thought we played really well, I thought we played really well all the game. I’m delighted with the performance.

“I asked for a benchmark performance, if that’s the benchmark that’s a pretty high standard for us. If we play like that every week and compete, play the way we did and create the chances that we did, we’ll be fine.”

McCarthy says Reading’s first goal was a Tyrone Mings own goal: “I think it’s come off Ty, I think it’s come off his back, he got turned around, it’s looked like somebody’s pulled him.

“I know Adam Le Fondre is claiming it, he’s a centre forward but I’m not so sure he touched it at all. But I’m sure Ty would prefer him to have it than himself.

“It was a great delivery [from Garath McCleary], sometimes you have to give to bit of credit. But I thought we should have done better and cleared it. But unfortunately we didn’t.

The Blues boss confirmed that the Royals’ second goal, scored by Danny Guthrie, caught a Town player before beating keeper Loach: “It took a deflection off Luke Hyam. I don’t think he’s going to beat him with a shot from there but the deflection took it up and looped over Loachy and gave him no chance really.”

Reading manager Nigel Adkins was happy to gain his first home win as Royals boss and his team's first opening day three points for a while: “It’s pleasing, as a football club we haven’t won on the opening day of the season since 2006. We’ve changed that one now with the victory, which is really pleasing.

“We’ve got three points on the board and that was important because it was always going to be a challenging fixture today when you look at the opposition, the manager, the way he sets things up, they’re a hard team to beat, Ipswich.

“Obviously when we’ve gone behind in the first half, having started brightly, all of a sudden you’ve got a challenge on your hands.

“Alfie pops up with a great goal right on half-time to change the complexion of the scoreline, he’s done ever so well to get between the two centre-halves and get his head on the ball.”

The ex-Southampton and Scunthorpe boss was in no doubt that the goal was Le Fondre’s: “It’s his goal.”

He added: “In the second half I thought we looked strong pushing forward, Danny Guthie, although it took a little bit of a deflection, it’s a good goal because I thought we were in the ascendency.

“And then we had to have that resolution at the end when the long throws were coming in at the end to defend them and go on and get the three points on the board.”

Photo: Action Images

Drew added 18:24 - Aug 3 Nothing to be downhearted about, we played well and were beaten by two unfortunate goals. Just need to move on and focus on Stevenage and Millwall.
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Mr_Jingles added 18:24 - Aug 3 Was at the game.... thought we deserved a draw at least. They got luck with the winner ( It looked like it took a deflection over the keeper) But... hey ho... good to see so many away supporters and proves we have more faith and optimism in MM than the previous 2 or 3 managers
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westminsterblue added 18:24 - Aug 3 Great support today and plenty of positives from the performance, especially in the first half. Keep the faith and let's make PR a fortress next Sat. (Millwall won't be happy losing at home to Yeovil-nice to see Ed Upson get their winner.)
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AbujaBlue added 18:27 - Aug 3 These words from big Mick has set my mind at ease. Looking forward to next week with the advantage of home support.
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Mark added 18:27 - Aug 3 Always a tough match away to an ex-Premier League team (all three of which won, Wigan 4-0 away!). Playing well and only suffering a narrow defeat are positives, as is the youth of our side with the likes of Mings and Hewitt playing - they can only benefit from the experience.
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TownOnTheUp added 18:52 - Aug 3 I was at the match today, and I came away with my sense of optimism intact, which was what I wanted. Yes, we lost, but we weren't outclassed. We never really had control of the midfield, but we still managed to create 5 or 6 opportunities, about as many as Reading did. It's a disappointing result, but Mick's right and if we play like that we'll win more often than not. What I was most intrigued by going into this match was how our full-backs would cope. Hewitt was in a battle all afternoon, and coped decently. Mings did the same, but his positioning and judgement was a little off, particularly on high balls (it was in this way that we conceded the corner from which their first goal came), but this is something that will improve with experience, one would hope. A little word for Skuse. He played well, shielded the back four, kept play ticking over in possession, but he's not creative in any sense of the word. A good performance though. Hyam, meanwhile, never really looked to go forward. Wordsworth needs to be in that central midfield if we're to carry any threat from that area.

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battyblue added 19:26 - Aug 3 Town on the up) agree with you re Wordsworth when he is fit again and Taylor has to start again when fully fit which i guess he's not at the moment
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TownOnTheUp added 19:42 - Aug 3 Just to add this to my criticism of Mings, I forgot to mention that he was struggling with a knee injury, so some elements of his performance can beeexcused (not that it was all that bad anyway).
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Keaneish added 19:51 - Aug 3 I actually thought Mings lost a little confidence second half and struggled after giving possession away a couple of times . He made a couple of naive errors toward the end but then again he is only 18! Have to agree with MM. Reading are decent and despite Adkins playing four up top at times with the wide men cheating a bit I thought we coped OK. I think it was fairly obvious how we would line up and approach the game so Adkins had the upper hand but we weren't unduly exploited. That said. Too many long balls into the front men which weren't coming off for me. Taylor looked hungry when he came on and was arguably our brightest spark. Looking forward to Millwall where it will be a much more adventurous display I'm sure.

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BLUEBEAT added 20:04 - Aug 3
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Letchworth_Blue added 20:06 - Aug 3 Probably get loads of minuses for this but I thought we were really poor in the 2nd half. Got what we deserved e.g nothing. Support was great in numbers, but after they equalised, silence! Still optimistic though. One swallow doesn't make a summer etc.
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SouperJim added 20:22 - Aug 3 I agree with you Letchworth, we were poor 2nd half and let Reading take control of the game. The goal was coming and the bench did nothing, Taylor needed to come on sooner, too many long balls to an isolated Murphy. First game and away to a big side, but we were not at full tilt today. Mick has put a good spin on it but we didn't press enough and put pressure on them in their own half. Long way to go, but we need to see more of the hardworking side from last season if we're serious about making the top 6.

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Wickets added 20:30 - Aug 3 Sorry Mick but i dont really agree thought we where second best all second half, after we gave a poor goal away Hewitt and Carlos had done well stopping most of the crosses but mayby switched off in the final minute of the half, Should Loach have done better for it also? I though the winning goal was coming bit lucky but you make your own luck. Worryingly Reading had an easy path into our half many times McGoldrick and Murth failed to close Reading players many many times, last season we defended from the front today we did not. How fit is Taylor could not understand why he was not on earlier.

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SouperJim added 20:55 - Aug 3 Spot on about not defending from the front wickets, Tabb was our only forward player putting himself about.
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Lennyboy added 21:23 - Aug 3 Had to work today so listened on BBC Suffolk. Going by the commentary we were on equal par, at least. Listened to Nigel Adkins interview and he sounded mighty relieved. The boys did us proud and the little mistakes if thats what they are, will even out. Ticket in hand for Millwall......COYB.
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Guthrum added 21:29 - Aug 3 Just got back and generally agree with the above comments. Think heads dropped a little second half, following the equaliser. But overall a decent performance. Play every game like we were in the first half and we'll do well. Special mention for Jay Tabb - he's a real terrier and adds a lot to the team.
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BroskiBeen added 21:53 - Aug 3 cant believe some people are actualy worrying already, its the first game against one of the best teams in the league and with an all round good performance
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marco007 added 22:25 - Aug 3 This was a bit of a reality check as although we did ok, I genuinely do not think that Reading will be one of the best teams in this division. When you look at the likes of Watford, Wigan, Leicester, Forrest, QPR they have all got stronger squads and we are in a group of also rans that relies on free signings and cast offs. I think a good season will be hovering around the play offs but we are a long way off being serious contenders. Let's hope I am proved wrong.

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iamipswich added 23:12 - Aug 3 Not too impressed to be honest however I can appreciate there were certainly positives. Although don't think Skuse OR Hyam are good enough (yet in hyams case) to be starting in centre midfield for us, no creativity or forward instinct between the pair of them. Wordsworth definitely should go in when he's fit. Thought mings did fairly well considering he was up against probably the best wingers in the league although still some way to go until the finished article. Similar story with Hewitt although I don't think he's good enough to start for us either despite coping fairly well. Up front I think Paul Taylor is by far our best forward and has the extra quality we perhaps lack. Finally I have to say I was not impressed with our style of play. Long ball football hoping Murphy will win everything and someone is there for the usually inaccurate knockdown. That should change in my opinion. I know this seems like a very negative post but this is me being very pedantic and desperately wanting as to really push for play offs which I think are out of reach at the moment. Must say though that Smith and Chambers still look extremely solid at the back, especially Smith.

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RetroBlue added 23:13 - Aug 3 I was at the game today and I can say with hand on heart, forget the scoreline because frankly if flattered the not so long ago Premier league outfit. If that's the PL standard, then our new blossoming Town team aint that far off the mark. We more than matched them for at least 65% of the game. Our young wing backs playing out of their skins- an experience which only help build on their abilities as the season progresses. Their was only one set of very anxious and then relieved fans in that ground when the final whistle went and it wasn't Town fans. They may have been patting themselves on the back for a "good win" post match, but in truth they needed TWO very fortunate goals off the back or boot of a Town player to secure it. And the busiest GK today was Not Loach! Much to look forward to for ITFC this season. COYB's .."Get into them"

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Jimmy86 added 23:35 - Aug 3 Went to the game today and gotta say im gutted we lost but at the same time, not too downhearted as we werent outclassed and contained reading for much of the game. Reading got lucky with the goals, esp with the 2nd. We still had chances to score and perhaps should have been 2 up already. Great atmosphere today too which put them to shame. Karacan was also lucky to stay on the pitch and the ref bottled it. My man of the match was skuse, who kept a tight hold of drenthe. Onwards and upwards coyb

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fifeblue added 01:26 - Aug 4 Should not really have lost that match. But Town will get better and Reading won't so reasons to be optimistic.
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bluearmy89 added 05:48 - Aug 4 In my opinion reading are favourites for the league and pretty pleased with how we played against them. Must say Royston Drenthe in the reading team?? He was playing for Real Madrid a few seasons back deary me, was signed on big money from Ajax I think, how the mighty fall. He is too good for that league I think, that was what we were up against so well played town, onto PR for a win against millwall.

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BeingBlue added 06:34 - Aug 4 Disappointing defeat but i felt the performance(especially first half) was terrific against the opposition we had in front of us. Deserved a draw came away with nothing, that's football. On to Millwall now where a win is needed. COYB!
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paris_mitchell_in_oz added 07:31 - Aug 4 Mick out!!!!
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