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"You look at the three games as difficult fixtures and we knew we had to play well," Coppell said. "We stuttered a bit today, Burnley made it hard, but lo and behold we've got nine points out of nine, and we played well in two out of the three games. Today we didn't play at our best but we still came out of it with three very, very welcome points.
"On paper people might think Burnley won't be a Wolves, or even a Swansea, but they'd won six and drawn three out of their last nine. We knew it would be hard. Their shape creates problems, they've got Graham Alexander in front of the back four and he does a great job. But even so we played into their hands in the first half.
"In the second half we had more width, much more urgency and we got the result. We were comforted by the early goal but it still wasn't clear cut. We got a third, and even late on we were trying to play good stuff. We only had ten men when Kebe was off injured but we're still trying to take quick free kicks.
"We were always trying to score, and that cost us a bit when Burnley got one very late on, but that was a fair reward for their input into the game."
Owen Coyle put the defeat down to poor defending but confirmed that he knew the reasons and would address that problem. He said: "We know we have competed well against a team you might expect to be right up there at the end of the season and we have shown great heart. But I am disappointed with the 3-1 scoreline, I have to say.
"We had prepared well and I was so disappointed with the goal we lost in the first half, but not disappointed with what happened after that. I felt we dominated the half and when you look back and analyse, I don't think Brian Jensen has had a save to make.
"Their finishing was clinical all afternoon and I don't want to take anything away from Reading, but I thought we offered a lot to the game and I am certainly disappointed to be on the end of that."
The manager wasn't happy at the red card shown to Stephen Jordan in stoppage time and admitted he'd spoken to referee Kevin Friend about it. "I don't want to come in and appear petty, but I do think there is a time in football where common sense can play a part," he said.
"I spoke to the referee at the end, very amicably, and he felt it was a caution. I thought he was fouled in the build up, but even then Reading had a free kick and there were ten seconds left. There was no chance of us going up the pitch and scoring a goal, so common sense should prevail."
Coyle revealed that he had a couple of defenders injured. Clarke Carlisle had been doubtful with a back injury whilst Michael Duff was substituted after suffering with sore ribs and he'll be assessed before he links up with the Northern Ireland squad.
Summing up he said: "I thought it was two very good teams, both trying to pass the ball and I was just disappointed with the goals we have lost because we have defender better than that. But I know what the reasons are and I will be looking to rectify that."
"We will take our kick in the teeth and get back to work and try go on another unbeaten run."