'˜We dominated and deserved more' - What Reading boss Jaap Stam thought of 2-0 defeat to Leeds United

Reading manager Jaap Stam. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA

Goals from Chris Wood and Souleymane Doukara secured all three points for the Whites to move them back up to fifth in the Championship table.

The hosts enjoyed just 23 per cent of possession, but clearly made that count as well as showing a resilience at the back and willingness to put their bodies on the line to deny a team gunning for one of the top two automatic promotion places.

Big match verdict - Phil Hay on how Leeds United beat Reading

Kyle Bartley and Robert Green applaud the Leeds fans at full-time after Tuesday night's 2-0 win. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

The results leaves Leeds just two points behind the third-placed Royals, and eight off Newcastle United, who were pushed down to second by Brighton after the Seagulls won 3-2 at Blackburn Rovers.

But former Manchester United star Stam was left wondering what might have been following a frustrating night in West Yorkshire.

“We were dominant throughout,” said Stam. “We have dominated games for a half or an hour before, but here we dominated for the full 90 minutes, creating chances...we just needed to score the goal.

“We played very, very well - maybe one of our best games actually.

“In how we play, you’re not going to get 10 or 15 chances - but you’re always going to get a couple of chances during the game, especially if teams are going to play like Leeds did.

”We spoke about being patient and we were - but we could have been a bit better in our decision-making in the final third, passing the ball at the right time or knowing when to put it into the box or not.”

Stan felt his team’s domination should have merited a goal, but admitted his team paid the price for their failure to convert.

“We should have scored before they took the lead,” added Stam. “And then you need to be sharp in defence because you know if you lose the ball they are going to want to counter-attack quickly.

“And if you’re not aggressive enough in that one moment, you give that goal away, they score and you know its’ going to be even more difficult.

“Towards the end we tried to force it, going forward and trying to score that equaliser. But the referee didn’t give a throw in, they won the penalty, 2-0 and it’s all over.

“We deserved more, but you don’t always get what you deserve. The only thing that disappointed me tonight however, was the result.”

Yorkshire Evening Post

Get the latest news from the Yorkshire Evening Post on social media.

Like the Leeds United - Yorkshire Evening Post Facebook Page

Follow YEPSportsdesk on Twitter

See our snaps at Leeds United - YEP on Instagram.