Richardson gutted for fans after Oxford loss

Reading head coach Leam Richardson was "gutted" for their supporters after losing to rivals Oxford in the Thames Valley derby. After a tight first half on Wednesday, Oxford scored twice after the break and condemned the Royals to a fourth league defeat of the season. They came close on a number of occasions as Paudie O'Connor and Jacob Brown both struck the woodwork with efforts. Oxford defender Ciaron Brown even hit his own crossbar with a clearance as he was trying to cut-out a Reading attack. Richardson's side remain sixth in League One after 14 matches having won six times with four draws. "After the game, the first emotion is that I'm absolutely gutted for the fans - with the game that it was - to not get a positive result," he told BBC Radio Berkshire. "It's really disappointing. I thought in the first half we were excellent out of possession, we have to be better on transition but we nullified them. "Then in the second half we started really well and then we switched off and the game's over in five minutes from two set-plays. "We were so weak around both goals and that's not like us, so it's very disappointing but we'll come again." Reading return to action on Saturday against Peterborough in the first round of the FA Cup (20:00 GMT) before an EFL Trophy game against Bristol Rovers.