Brendan Rodgers is wondering when his and his players' luck is going to change. The Royals' boss watched his troops dominate the game against Cardiff on Wednesday evening and create a number of goalscoring chances but somehow still lose to a solitary Chris Burke strike.
"Sometimes in football you just don't get what you deserve and I thought we were fantastic. I think everyone in the ground could see that," Rodgers remarked.
"I'm sure Cardiff will be delighted to come away with three points from that game.
"Some of our play is outstanding and, game on game, it's getting better.
"We were unfortunate for the goal - Ryan's legs got caught up at the back post and the Cardiff midfielder has put the ball in the only area of the net he could have scored.
"Apart from the goal it was all one way and defensively we were strong.
"I feel for the players because they are giving so much to the games - there were loads of positive moments to take.
"But a basic cross into the box, a nudge in the back on Darren, a stumble from Ryan and we're 1-0 down - and it's that incredible moment that has lost us the game."
In a final fifteen minutes, Reading threw everything at their opponents to try to bounce back from a harsh deficit and a goal that had been scored hugely against the run of play.
But despite Adam Federici's injury time overhead kick attempt and a red card for City's Stephen McPhail, the rub of the green again went against the home side.
"I think the benchmark for me is quite clear - we've played the top teams in this division and we've been right up there. It's just a matter of inches.
"It's not as if we are losing game after game with no level of performance. The performances have been strong from a young team; we had five players under the age of 21.
"I'm very optimistic in my outlook anyway, but it's only a matter of time and we're getting closer and closer to that.
"The supporters were unbelievable. They recognise that we're very, very shortly going to turn the corner. Our luck is out at the moment, but it will turn."
A trip to Peterborough awaits at the weekend and Rodgers was already looking forward to getting back into training on Thursday in preparation for another Championship challenge.
"We have to regroup. We'll reflect on the game on Thursday and we'll go to Peterborough on Saturday, looking to win our next couple of games.
"The players will be super. We always have an open discussion on how we're going to improve and, in this game, you have to deal with failure as well as the success.
"These guys have just missed out after putting in a wonderful performance. We will now seek to turn those performances into points.
"Last season this Club had a great run and then, all of a sudden, that disappeared. A run can quickly go the other way and that is something we are definitely capable of."
