Royals boss Steve Coppell was absolutely dumbstruck after watching his team completely dominate against Burnley for 80 minutes - only to lose out to an absolute sucker punch in the 81st.
"The longer the game went on, the more it thought we were going to win," the bemused Royals boss admitted.
"If the goal had been a couple of inches wider or taller it would have been a comfortable game for us I think.
"In many ways I'd like to compliment my players. But coming away with nothing after a performance like that and with the chances we had...we're all bitterly disappointed."
World TV: Boss deflated by defeat
Report: Burnley 1-0 Reading
Reading were far and away the better team, and even a draw would have been incredibly harsh on us but we somehow came away with nothing from Turf Moor.
We hit the woodwork three times, and found the home keeper Brian Jensen in sensational form, with everything we hit somehow kept out by the overworked Dane.
"The dressing room is numb," Coppell continued.
"We hit the post and crossbar a number of times and their goalkeeper made some tremendous saves, before they scored out of nothing.
"In the second half we played ever so well. We were powerful and had that drive.
"Robbie Blake came on and you know you've got to adjust the way you defend. But I couldn't see them scoring and, when they did, we got a bit kitchen sinkish which we never do very well.
"We're obviously being told there is a home and away divide and a trend forming, but we're not playing any differently.
"Away from home were just not getting any breaks. At Preston I thought we did enough to get points, and tonight I think if we'd come off at 0-0 we'd have taken the positives but still been disappointed.
"So to come away with nothing is very disappointing. It's a soft defeat for us.
"I think if they maintain that level of performance away from home we'll win more than we lose.
"That may sound strange seeing as we've only won one away, but if we create as many chances as we did tonight, we'll be ok."
Asked at the end of his press conference about any injuries picked up, a horribly disgruntled and baffled manager summed his evening up by saying, "I didn't hang around long enough to find out."
