BURNLEY’S loss at Reading was only the second time this season the Clarets have suffered back-to-back away league defeats, but Eddie Howe classed it as a “moral victory”.

The 34-year-old took positives from seeing his side dominate possession and chances, carving the Royals’ defence open with their passing football, but without the goals to show for it.

Howe nevertheless remains encouraged by his players’ continued improvement this term.

“I’ve said all season we’re getting better with every game and I firmly believe, although we will have the odd dip now and then, we’re progressing really well as a team,” he said.

“The lads are beginning to really start believing in themselves, so that’s a real positive. The result at Reading went against us but I think it was a moral victory in terms of how we played.

“The real positive is, you can count the games off where we’ve performed well against all the top sides.

“That was one that’s gone against us but long-term if we continue to perform like that we’ve got a great chance.

“There are still a lot of points to play for.”

But Howe was disappointed to come away from the Madejski Stadium with nothing.

“We created enough chances in both halves to get something out of the game,” he said.

“We did really well against Barnsley in terms of retaining the ball and keeping it and moving it from side to side but Friday was a progression from that where we sliced Reading open at times.

“It was just in and around the box where we felt perhaps our quality wasn’t up to its usual standard. We hit the woodwork twice, their keeper’s made a couple of great saves.

“To come to a tough place like this and create the chances that we did, we’re disappointed to lose.

“To be fair to Reading they defended the lead very well in the second half, broke the game up and slowed everything down, which was incredibly frustrating for us.

“You want the game as quick as it can be but they killed the game almost.”

Howe was, however, pleased to welcome back Martin Paterson after being sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old came off the bench in the second half with fit-again striker Danny Ings.

“It was good to see Pato and Danny come on,” said Howe.

“They’re both very much in our plans going forward. That would have done Danny the world of good getting more game time.

“I thought he looked bright when he came on, as did Pato, so it’s a good step in their recovery.”