Reading boss Noel Hunt felt his side were worthy winners against Wanderers – but admitted they had a “bit of luck” in the second half.

Aaron Collins missed a big chance for the Whites before the Royals were awarded a penalty at the other end, which Harvey Knibbs stuck away.

Hunt hailed his players’ efforts after a “tough week”, losing at Burton on Tuesday night and then selling top scorer Sam Smith to Wrexham.

“I am proud of the boys,” he told the club channels. “The desire, they carried on the performance from Tuesday night in terms of how we want to move the ball and mix things up.

“They deserved it, they fought tooth and nail. We out-fight, we out-run, that is our model, and then we try to play.

“(Bolton) are a good team, you can’t deny that. They have got a good manager, he is a great man. But we deserved to win today, we were great value for it.”

The manager added: “I have known Schuey for a long time. The mentality of the players will obviously change, the new manager comes in and they want to impress.

“He has come in from outside the club so it is a massive one for him. But in terms of us, the loss on Tuesday and the manner of it, Sam (Smith) leaving late on Thursday evening.

“It was a tough week for the boys, mentally, but they came out as top professionals and really showed what they are about and worth.”

Collins also went close in the first half but was denied by the legs of Joel Pereira, while Josh Sheehan hit a free kick against the crossbar.

"Put out a performance and put out the work rate that we have into every game, and then we will see where we are at the end of it,” said Hunt.

“Joel made a great save - a fortunate one go through, and he made a great save for us at 0-0. We got the bit of luck at the other end and we deserved the win today.

“We can still get better in the final third and make better decisions to create more chances, but they are a young group and they are learning."