JOEY van den Berg accused Reading FC of letting QPR off the hook in Saturday's hoops derby.

Royals drew with 1-1 with Rangers at Loftus Road and remain eighth in the Championship table after one defeat in the last 11 matches in all competitions.

But van den Berg suggested Royals could easily have snatched all three points after dominating the hosts for the majority of the second half.

However, John Swift, Roy Beerens, Garath McCleary, George Evans and Yann Kermorgant all wasted decent chances to fire Reading ahead after Danny Williams had cancelled out an early Pawel Wszolek goal for the home side.

Van den Berg admitted: “It was a difficult game to start with, but we couldn’t score the second goal and that was disappointing.

“I thought we had them right where we wanted, but we didn’t reward ourselves.

“But there is a good feeling about the way we played in the second half especially, so we have to keep going with that feeling.

“It was a good comeback from one behind – it was a very strong from us as a team to get back quickly into the game and not to be too disappointed. After that I think we were the better team.

“They were a strong and physical team and that makes them dangerous, but I think we had them where we wanted.

“We played mostly in their half and we should have been able to score one or two more.”

Van den Berg was forced to abandon his favoured position as a defensive midfielder on Saturday in order to step in for injured Royals skipper Paul McShane at centre-back.

It was the Dutchman's first outing since a 4-1 defeat at Brentford last month as he was ruled out of the 1-1 draw against Derby County through illness before the two week international break.

And the 30-year-old admitted he was a little ring rusty to begin with before growing into the game.

“It was different to the last few weeks,” said van den Berg. “My last game was just a half against Brentford away, so it feels like ages since I played a game.

“At the beginning it was a little bit difficult to get into the tempo of the game, but I think the second half was a bit better.

“It has been a while since I’ve played but I feel stronger every day and I think games always help you get back in that rhythm.

“We’re on a good path and we have to keep going.”

Reading are now without a win in three Championship matches ahead of tomorrow night's Championship clash against Steve Bruce's Aston Villa at Madejski Stadium (8pm ko).