Nigel Adkins: 'We defended poorly in defeat'

Reading boss Nigel Adkins has admitted that his side defended poorly in their 4-2 defeat to West Ham United at Upton Park.

Kevin Nolan scored a hat-trick to seal a win for the Hammers despite the Royals coming back from two-goals down early in the second half.

Adkins told the club's official website: "We started the second half brightly and at that point we're in the ascendancy. Then in the last 10 minutes West Ham got a third and then the fourth one is a poor one from our perspective.

"It's been clear that there's a progression in how we want to play, but it's about winning. From 2-0 we showed character, but it's about what you do in both boxes."

Going into the game, Reading were already relegated to the Championship but the finished the season in 19th place in the Premier League table.