Reading assistant manager Andries Ulderink praised the Royals' resilience after they won with 10 men for a second successive game.
The Berkshire club, who overcame the dismissal of Garath McCleary to beat Barnsley 2-1 on Saturday, had defender Tyler Blackett sent off shortly before half-time as they clinched a 2-1 EFL Cup victory at Sky Bet Championship rivals Brighton.
Ulderink felt Blackett was harshly red-carded by referee Lee Probert but was full of praise for the way his team battled to advance in the competition.
He said: "It is good to be unbeaten in seven games and we have momentum. It was the result we needed.
"We started well with 11v11, creating chances, and we hoped for the second goal in the second half."
Blackett received a straight red card for a late challenge on debutant defender Sebastien Pocognoli and Ulderink said: "I thought he slipped and played the ball.
"But the referee told me he took the player after he played the ball. Tyler is very disappointed. He sat in the corner of the dressing room and didn't speak to anyone."
Goals in each half from skipper Stephen Quinn and John Swift took Reading through and Ulderink admitted that Brighton's second-half pressure made for an anxious end to the game.
The Dutchman added: "After our second goal we had three or four tough situations in the box and it could have been 2-2. So it was hard work."
Chris Hughton criticised his men for giving away "poor goals" as they bowed out of the competition.
The Albion chief was also left disappointed that they failed to make more of their second-half dominance.
He said: "I am disappointed but have no complaints with the team I put out.
"Reading started better than us and their tempo was better. We conceded poor goals... at 1-0 you are still in the game and we certainly had opportunities.
"But you have to make more of the dominance that we had in the last 25 minutes. Reading sat in, but we must make more of them."
Hughton felt Blackett's dismissal was fully justified.
He said: "If you jump in with two feet then there is every chance you will be sent off."
Hughton admits it is a concern that his men are currently not converting enough of their chances, Glenn Murray having not hit the net since mid-August.
"It is a concern that the goals are drying up," said Hughton. "We are generally a solid team but we still need to get the balance right."
Source: PA-WIRE
