Source: PA
Mariner: We will keep fighting
Plymouth boss Paul Mariner felt Reading`s decisive late spot-kick at the Madejski Stadium was soft but refused to concede his side are destined for a return to League One.
Shane Long opened the scoring in the 51st minute with a cool one-on-one finish but Pilgrims captain Carl Fletcher drove the visitors level 17 minutes later in what was a much-improved second-half display.
And the game looked set for a draw until substitute Hal Robson-Kanu was bundled over in stoppage time, leaving Long to smash the ball down the middle and hand Reading another crucial win.
Mariner said: "It is a very difficult pill to swallow. We didn't play well in the first half but we got back into the game and felt we had done enough to earn a point so it's very tough.
"The changes (Kenny Cooper and Craig Noone) made a difference but when you are fighting at this end of the table you rely on a bit of luck and I don't feel we got that.
"It was a soft penalty and I'm not sure that we would have been given it at the other end but the referee had a good view of it and he gave it so that is that. But this league is not daunting. We will not throw the towel in, there is an incredible amount of football still to play. Anyone can beat anyone and we will keep fighting till the end."
