'Outbattled and outplayed by Wigan Athletic', admits Reading chief

The Royals were dragged into the relegation dogfight after being whipped by a rampant Latics side who are now in the bottom three only on goal difference.

Kieffer Moore, Jamal Lowe and Michael Jacobs scored for the visitors, who could and should won by even more such was their total dominance.

And Bowen admits it's back to the drawing board after his side were booed off by their own supporters.

"I'm quite staggered with what I have just witnessed," acknowledged the Royals chief.

"I've been here for around three months and I've given the lads pats on the backs.

"But tonight - and I've told them - was unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable what was produced.

"I thought we were outbattled, outplayed and it's unacceptable and we'll make sure we get a reaction for Saturday.

"Even the quality on the ball - I haven't seen that in the worst training session on any given day since I've come in so I don't know where that performance came from."

Bowen also recognised a possible fear factor to playing at home given the negative atmosphere inside the stadium.

"There could be," he conceded. "We've talked about that and we did at half time - I said to the players you're playing in front of your own crowd, you have to raise yourself above any individual comments.

"We're in a team game but if every individual does their job right then you don't have to worry about the team, that'll take care of itself.

"I'm struggling for an individual in my team who did anything right.

"I got senior players who either didn't want the ball or when they did get it they did things which I haven't seen from them before.

"At certain times I saw people who didn't really want to get on the ball.

"They were happy for one of their team-mates to go and get it.

"Of course I can't blame the crowd and, if I had paid my money to come in, I dare say I'd have been doing the same thing.

"But on the other side, obviously in an ideal world it doesn't help. You always want the crowd to get behind the team.

"It's my job, the players' and the staff's to make sure that all thoughts of fans leaving the ground are no different to mine.

"But I'm human and like everybody else am wondering where the hell has that come from?"