CHRIS Clark believes Reading substitute Hal Robson-Kanu "conned" referee Oliver Langford for the crucial penalty in Argyle's defeat at the Madejski.

Shane Long swept home the injury-time spot-kick to condemn the Greens to defeat after Carl Fletcher had earlier equalised Long's first goal.

"I had to come across and cover," said Clark. "I think he [Robson-Kanu] already realised I was coming across and he was on his way down.

"I had my hands up and I think I got my body in front of him. He just fell and referee's fallen for it. He was already on his way down and he's conned the ref, who fell for it.

"There is no reason for me to make a challenge when I know how late it is in a game like that, especially with Arnie [Kári Árnason] still so close. We looked comfortable enough, so it was heartbreaking to give it away so late."

Head Coach Paul Mariner was equally dubious about the key decision of the night. He said: "I'm not saying it was a soft pen but, if the roles were reversed, if [Jamie] Mackie was going in at the other end, I'm not sure he would have got that.

"The referee had a very good view it and we went down fighting, but we came away with nothing. It was very, very unfortunate.

"Players always say it wasn't a pen but the referee gave the pen, so it's over."

Clarky continued: "We're not coming away with any heavy defeats. Nobody's looking better than us. We proved it against West Brom, who are top of the league, and we proved it again tonight.

"I'm not saying we deserve to win every game but we don't deserve to be losing with the amount of work we put into every game.

"We looked a lot better in the second-half. We had to give it a go and we deserved to get back in the game."