Sunday 29 October 2017 10:22, UK
Reading manager Jaap Stam admits he could be sacked after the club's poor run continued with a 2-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough.
The Royals - last season's losing play-off finalists - have lost four of their last five Championship matches and sit just two points above the drop zone with only three wins from their 13 league games.
Grant Leadbitter's penalty and Britt Assombalonga's header gave Boro victory on Saturday and Stam said the Royals board should act if they feel someone is capable of doing a better job.
On his job security, Stam said: "If people might think to make other choices, that's how it is. I like the club very much but if somebody else can make better results and do it better, then [the board] need to make that decision.
"We all work very hard - the team, the staff, the players - but if there's someone out there to do it a lot better, then that decision needs to be made."
Reading went behind in the 14th minute when Middlesbrough captain Leadbitter hammered home from the spot after Joey van den Berg had clumsily fouled Britt Assombalonga.
Although Reading dominated for large spells, they created few clear-cut chances. Assombalagona sealed Middlesbrough's victory when nodding home his seventh goal of the season in the 74th minute.
Stam added: "We started very well, in going forward and keeping the pace high. Then we conceded a stupid goal from a penalty.
"You need to come back from that, which is always difficult because you're then facing a team that is dropping deep. They hardly have any intention of playing and that makes it difficult to break them down.
"Boro were very defensive. But when you make two mistakes, concede two goals and don't score ourselves, you lose games."
Centre-back Tiago Ilori was taken to hospital suffering from concussion after a clash of heads with team-mate Liam Moore, and Stam said: "Tiago is not looking good. He's probably going to be out for a while."
