PAUL Ince slammed two "diabolical" referee decisions that he felt "changed the game" in Reading's 5-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

Ince was fuming at Keith Stroud's decision to award Boro a penalty for handball which led to the opening goal and equally as angry when the referee waved away a Reading claim for a spot-kick soon after when Shane Long went down in the box under the challenge of Tommy Smith.

Ince felt that not only should Reading have had a penalty but Smith should have been sent off.

Ince said: "It was a tough afternoon, but it wouldn’t have been if the referee had the coolness to make the right decisions.

"I never like to blame referees but he gives two decisions that change the game. Listen, they are a great team, but I thought we did well in the first 15 minutes to quieten the crowd. Then he gives the penalty from two yards when his hands are by his side.

"But the lads reacted well and we should have a penalty. It’s a stonewall, and not only is it a penalty it’s a red card.

"They were diabolical decisions and that left us chasing the game. Against a good team, it made the second half tough. We made a silly individual mistake at the end of the first half and that kind of gives them the game.

"It’s very unlike us. But the referee have got to get those decisions right. I can accept mistakes, but they’re both horrendous decisions."

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While furious with those first half decisions, Ince admitted his team "capitulated" in the second half and praised Boro.

He said: "I'm not one for sugar-coating anything.

"We made the mistake just before half-time, an individual error, a poor mistake and goal to concede. They're 2-0 up at half-time. But I am disappointed with how we capitulated in the second half. It's very unlike us, and sometimes that's when you've got to fight.

"To concede two goals in three or four minutes was really poor from us. But equally, I can't not look at the first half and the decisions that went against us. The first 45 minutes could have been so different.

"We don't confess to be at their level or to have the money and the quality of players that they've got. Middlesbrough are a very good football team and they play some really good stuff under Michael. He's a very young manager, and an English manager, which I'm pleased to see."