Brian McDermott was left hugely disappointed after seeing the Royals lose at Plymouth, and stated firmly that the performance 'simply cannot happen again.'

Reading were well below par, and Argyle fully deserved to win after coming out on top in a real scrap of a match.

He said, "We had a really bad day and I am really disappointed. If you come to a place like this and don't win your individual battles that will happen.

"The fact that they have outfought us hurts, it hurts more than anything. Losing is one thing but being outfought is another, that's the most disappointing thing.

"Plymouth have come out on top in headers, tackles, movement, the basics of football. I don't know where that performance has come from, I didn't expect that.

"In the first 15 minutes there was nothing in the game, we gave another penalty away and that has got to stop happening.

"We were back in it at 2-1 and then gave another poor goal away, we gave ourselves a problem.

"We won't point the finger but we have to really, really deal with what has happened. We have to do a lot better.

"The pitch is not an excuse. Whatever the conditions you have to perform.

"Liverpool is next, and I have said to the players we cannot put on a performance like we did today. We cannot do that in front of our own supporters, live on national TV, that cannot happen again in another massive game like that.

"Our supporters have travelled a long way and I said to the players any criticism we get, we take on the chin. That can't happen again."