The Royals attempted to get their season back on track last night and went some way to rectifying the problems of recent weeks by defeating Gillingham 2-1 at home.
Click Here to Read Our Match Report From Last Night's Game.
However, despite Steve Sidwell's late strike it was a result the Royals barely deserved as the visitors dominated the game for long periods. The performance was scarcely an improvement on the uncoordinated displays of recent weeks.
But Steve Coppell, who was leading Reading for the first time, was none-the-less pleased with the result.
"It was a difficult game for the players, because there's an expectation with a new manager at the helm that we'll get back on the winning trail, as though it was an automatic thing that would just happen," the 48-year-old explained, speaking after the game.
"Football's not like that," he added, "So I'm delighted with the result and the qualities that brought the result."
However, the new boss knows Reading will have to begin to play their best stuff once more if they are to achieve the promotion they were so heavily tipped to achieve just weeks ago.
"I know there's a lot more performance-wise in the locker, but the qualities we showed tonight were resilience, teamwork, team unity and unquantifiable characteristics that are so important in the make-up of a side over a 50-game season."
In an effort to excuse his players, Coppell went onto admit that he reckons some of the Royals squad were trying a little too hard to make a lasting impression on him.
"Everyone was trying to please and I wish I could fade into the background sometimes – it's down the players, I had no particular role in the victory this evening, it was the players who had the attitude to be competitive.
"I know performances can be better than that, and hopefully when the hoo-ha of the new manager settles down, the players can express themselves more."
However, John Salako is one man that must have caught the Royals manager's attention. Salako, who hasn't even played a bit-part role this season, looked lively once introduced to the field as a substitute.
After an initial spell of lifelessness, old John showed some smart touches and played an influential role in Reading's winner, scored by Sidwell.
Sidwell a ginger-ruby in an otherwise murky season, hit another match winner last night, bringing his overall goal tally for the season to six.
New boss Coppell insists that Reading's midfield starlet will get no preferential treatment because of the good links they have forged during their time together and Bretford and Brighton.
Rubbishing such speculation, Steve concluded: "Just because I know Siddy doesn't mean I have a preference for him. I'm not interested in personalities as such, I just want to get the right formula to win games."
Reading's next game, and Coppell's second match in charge is this Saturday, at home to Preston North End.