Nigel Adkins: 'Shocking goals cost us'

Reading manager Nigel Adkins has rued two "shocking goals" that his side conceded in the first 12 minutes of the 2-1 defeat to Wigan Athletic.

Chris McCann and Manchester United loanee Nick Powell gave the Latics a two-goal lead, which the home team failed to overturn.

"You cannot legislate for the two poor goals we gave away," Adkins told the club's official website. "They were shocking goals. They were similar to the game against Bournemouth several weeks ago when we gave away two shocking goals very close to each other."

A missed Billy Sharp penalty added to Adkins agony, although the former Southampton man believes that his players showed good character to get back into the game through a Pavel Pogrebnyak goal.

"It's unfortunate that [Sharp] missed a penalty," he said. "After going 2-0 down the players have shown what is important - spirit and character and shown the ability to pass the ball and create opportunities, and there were plenty of them."

The Royals travel to the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day for their next league outing, where they will face high-flying Leicester City.