Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen has insisted that his side "deserved much more" from their meeting with Reading, putting the narrow defeat down to a lack of confidence.

The Whites' early-season momentum has come to a crashing halt as they have lost four of their last five league games, including three in a row.

Leeds faced more disappointment when going down 1-0 to an out-of-form Reading side at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, squandering a glorious chance to earn a share of the spoils when Pablo Hernandez missed an injury-time penalty.

Speaking after the game, Christiansen told reporters: "Confidence can put the ball in instead of missing, like the penalty, but we can work on that. From my point of view, they're the same players who brought us to the good situation that we were in before these games.

"We're still four points away from [second place]. This is also something to have in mind. We expected much of this game, especially after the two defeats we had and the one against Sheffield Wednesday. I expected a reaction and of course to take three points but this is football.

"We have to continue and work hard, and especially work with the minds of the players to take them back to where they're confident. From my point of view we deserved much more than we got after the second half. We didn't get it."

Leeds, who had not previously lost at home this term, return to action next Saturday with a trip to face Bristol City at Ashton Gate.