Boss Brendan Rodgers wants his team to start capitalising on good positions in games, and turning impressive periods of play into consistent 90 minute performances.
Reading started like a house on fire at West Brom this past Saturday, putting the high-flying Baggies completely under the kosh and unable to even get out of their own half as we raced into an early lead through Matt Mills.
Jobi McAnuff then had a great chance to make it 2-0, but with his effort going just over the bar the game then turned on its head and the Baggies went on to take control.
Brendan said, "It typified a lot of our performances this season. We took the lead, the game plan was good, but something came over us when we went in front, it's almost as if we're scared to become really good players. We make mistakes and let the other teams back in. After the first half you wouldn't have thought it would be 3-1.
"There comes a time when you have to look at things. In patches we are good but when we become vulnerable we need to be more solid. We need to do more to turn our good performances into good results because as a team we are undoing a lot of our good work.
"What let us down was mistakes. The first goal should never happen, from our corner. Second one we had possession and gave it away. The third one was a great strike, in fairness to the boy. The clearance went up in the air and he showed great technique.
"It's very frustrating, we did very well in big parts of the game but also looked vulnerable as well.
"We struggle when we play under a bit of pressure. Whenever games are in the balance we've taken the initiative, the game plan has worked well, we get in front and we give teams opportunities to score. All three goals were from us. From a good start and looking comfortable it was a very disappointing result.
"Consistency is not easy in this league but we are looking for it. We won at Preston but then lost to Middlesbrough and West Brom. We must become better.
"You have to keep encouraging the players. I'm not saying we'll never give the ball away, we just have to become efficient. The most efficient teams control the game with the ball. I said to the players that we don't think 'oh it's good enough' to go 1-0 up and lose 3-1 to a good team. We need to be tougher under pressure and deal with it, instead of giving away stupid goals."
Jerome Thomas was a constant thorn in our side, and his second goal put the game out of our reach. "He got through too easily and they made a pass into an area he shouldn't have got into. Shaun [Cummings] will learn from that, he's playing against a good player. They were poor goals from our part. We're very disappointed in there afterwards and we have to produce on the field."
McAnuff was doubly unfortunate in the first half, first of all when shooting just over and then when his miscued backpass allowed Thomas to make it 1-1 soon after.
Brendan said, "Jobi has been great, he's been a real threat in games and we nearly went 2-0 with an opportunity through him. He tried to pass and as a team we've made too many mistakes in games. I'd never blame individuals.
"The differences between winning and losing are very small, but the consequences are massive. We were inches away from going 2-0, and we would have fully deserved to be 2-0 up. You could sense the crowd starting to turn but we gave them energy with a stupid goal. As a team we need to react better then, it was only 1-1, but we never hurt them again until it was too late."
Adam Federici was in top form throughout the game, and Brendan commented, "He was fantastic, goodness me. He was first class, this is his first full season here and he's got a strong mentality."
The Royals now go to QPR on Tuesday evening, and Brendan is keen to bounce back quickly. "It's another tough game. We'll go again and be determined to get a result. Our away form has been good. When we're on our game we're a match for anyone."
