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"They hadn't created a great deal and for the away team in the first leg of a play off I thought we'd done OK. We'd done well to restrict their opportunities and we'd had a couple of good chances ourselves in the first half.
"There were some great saves from Brian Jensen, then a couple of scrambles and Jimmy's breakaway near the end, that was potentially there.
"But that's been the story of our football lately, a lot of potential without the clinical finishing. That's something we'll work on and try to get right for Tuesday."
He continued: "The second half was very frenetic and then there was a penalty incident. The referee was probably seven or eight yards away, and there was a shirt tug without doubt. But there's no way you could say for sure whether it was inside or outside the box.
"I've watched it five or six times now on a small computer and it's almost impossible to say even with the camera right along the line on the 18 yard box. Now I don't know where the benefit of the doubt should go, but certainly if there is no clarity in such an important game it shouldn't be given.
"For him to give it from where he was without the 100% support of the linesman, who had no input whatsoever, was at best a 'guesstimate'. I think initial contact was certainly outside the box and then the fall was obviously over-exaggerated as I would expect of any forward to be honest. But there's no way he could categorically say it was inside the box."
Coppell was questioned about the sending off of Andre Bikey in the last minute of extra time and he offered his central defender no support. "There's no defence," he said. "There is no space for that in football. He got 100% what he deserves, I have no reservations about that.
"His reaction was just a hugely emotional one, given the five minutes he'd had. He was fouled first remember which frustrated him but there is no excuse for his behaviour. We just don't accept that at our club. He understands that."
And finally looking forward to the second leg he added: "In a normal season I would say it's delicately poised but given our recent home form we have a hell of a mountain to climb. I'm not going to pretend otherwise.
"We know we've got a job to do and that we've got to do things a little bit differently on Tuesday. We've just got to try to win. We can't do anything other than go flat out, try and win the game, and see what happens.
"It's all to play for though. Burnley once again showed their resilience. They are a hard working side and they just stuck in there. It'll be tough. But we've got a job to do, and that's to do what we haven't been able to do recently and get a victory at home."
Owen Coyle had nothing but praise for his injury hit side after the game. "Everything we have coped with in terms of adversity is incredible," he said. "Michael Duff came in today and did really well after Rhys Williams went back to Middlesbrough.
"Then Wade Elliott failed a fitness test and Joey Gudjonsson came in. An injury soon forced him out of the game and then Chris Eagles came off with a hip injury.
"It was a performance full of guts and I just can't fault the desire and hunger to win football games. It's so evident and anyone standing watching that game knows the heart and bravery of my players."
Coyle admitted the Clarets would need to play better on Tuesday than they had in this game. He continued: "It's finely balanced, but we are very grounded and we now have to go there and play better than we did today.
"The game wasn't what I anticipated in terms of two good footballing teams. Reading came with a game play to stifle our threats and all credit to them. I thought they were really successful in doing it and there were very few clear cut chances.
"Brian Jensen made an outstanding save in the first half and Martin Paterson has popped up on the line to clear one, but that's why they are there.
"It was more of a battling performance, there's no doubt about it. But we drove ourselves on to try to win the game and so it proved."
Onto Tuesday and Coyle concluded: "I hope Wade has a chance because he is such a gifted player and the game would probably have suited him today. Fingers crossed all the lads make it, but if not we know we have players who will give their all to win games and we will look to go again."