Don Hutchison says that if anyone is to blame for the club's
exit from the Worthington Cup it should be him.
He says the finger should point at neither Scott Minto or Jermain Defoe for their penalty misses - and insists he should have wrapped things up before the penalties were needed.
"I feel a little bit responsible because I had a great chance with the last kick of the game.
"I hit it too well; if it had glanced off my head it would have gone in.
"I am disappointed I didn't get in too many goalscoring opportunities; I should have done a bit better with my shooting.
"I didn't strike as many balls as I would have liked.
"We didn't perform to our best although we played some good football at times.
"I'm gutted for the boys but I'm more gutted for J - he is going to be a great player, and it's a shame he missed the vital penalty.
"We all consoled him on the pitch and in the dressing room afterwards."
He says Jermain was right to volunteer for spot kick duty and adds:
"Jermain is a forward and wanted to take it; if an older defender had taken it and missed everyone would have said 'what about the forwards?'
"So it was six and two threes, and the standard of the penalties was really high.
"I'm sure he will bounce back; I don't really know him too well, but you can see he is a confident boy and he will pick himself up."
And he insists that Reading were not underestimated, adding:
"They are a good side and we knew they would give us a tough time.
"They have experienced pros and a good management team including Martin Allen."
Now Don is looking for a first league win of the season to lift the gloom and adds:
"In the dressing room before the game we were saying we are six games from Europe,and five from Cardiff.
"The fans turned out in numbers and we would have liked to have won it for them.
"It's the same old story but we have got to start putting it right and hopefully we can go on a good league run and FA Cup run.
"It is the old cliche but if we win tomorrow it will all be forgotten."
And he says there is no extra pressure in the match - even though neither side has won in the league this season.
"There is always pressure and even if we had won the game on Tuesday the league position is the most important thing."
He says the finger should point at neither Scott Minto or Jermain Defoe for their penalty misses - and insists he should have wrapped things up before the penalties were needed.
"I feel a little bit responsible because I had a great chance with the last kick of the game.
"I hit it too well; if it had glanced off my head it would have gone in.
"I am disappointed I didn't get in too many goalscoring opportunities; I should have done a bit better with my shooting.
"I didn't strike as many balls as I would have liked.
"We didn't perform to our best although we played some good football at times.
"I'm gutted for the boys but I'm more gutted for J - he is going to be a great player, and it's a shame he missed the vital penalty.
"We all consoled him on the pitch and in the dressing room afterwards."
He says Jermain was right to volunteer for spot kick duty and adds:
"Jermain is a forward and wanted to take it; if an older defender had taken it and missed everyone would have said 'what about the forwards?'
"So it was six and two threes, and the standard of the penalties was really high.
"I'm sure he will bounce back; I don't really know him too well, but you can see he is a confident boy and he will pick himself up."
And he insists that Reading were not underestimated, adding:
"They are a good side and we knew they would give us a tough time.
"They have experienced pros and a good management team including Martin Allen."
Now Don is looking for a first league win of the season to lift the gloom and adds:
"In the dressing room before the game we were saying we are six games from Europe,and five from Cardiff.
"The fans turned out in numbers and we would have liked to have won it for them.
"It's the same old story but we have got to start putting it right and hopefully we can go on a good league run and FA Cup run.
"It is the old cliche but if we win tomorrow it will all be forgotten."
And he says there is no extra pressure in the match - even though neither side has won in the league this season.
"There is always pressure and even if we had won the game on Tuesday the league position is the most important thing."