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Reading came apart in the second half, conceding five times without reply as the Millers ran riot at Millmoor last Saturday. But, clutching at straws a little perhaps, Coppell admitted he was disappointed that his side went in behind at the break, reasoning that Martin Butler shouldn't have been awarded a twenty-fourth minute penalty.
The under-fire Royals boss fumed: "For 35 minutes I genuinely thought we would win the game, I thought we were the better team.
"The referee's decision for their penalty was a poor one, but Butler went down brilliantly. The second goal was bad defending from our point of view, but at half-time I wasn't worried. I thought we had the firepower to get back in the game."
Despite being quick to lambast the 'cop-out' referee, the Reading manager also had some harsh word for his own side who crumbed in the second-half. Centre-back Adie Williams and shot-'stopper' Marcus Hahnemann were two men the media considered particularly culpable.
Speaking to the Reading Evening Post, Coppell was almost lost for words as he lambasted his side for their appalling display.
"The second half was disastrous. There were elements of our display that just amazed me. We were so deep, so spread apart, just made bad decisions and our attacking play dissipated," he added.
The remorseful boss concluded that his side have we have "two weeks to put things right". Royals fans will be hoping for a vastly improved performance when the team take on Gillingham - but then after Saturday's display they couldn't possibly have to put up with any worse.
Thumped. - FootyMAD's Match Report - Rotherham 5 Reading 1