DOMINIC Samuel and Callum Harriott brushed off accusations by Bristol City manager Lee Johnson that the match officials gifted Reading FC three points on Saturday.

Samuel was sent tumbling in the box in the 12th minute following a Hordur Magnusson challenge.

Referee Tim Robinson consulted with his assistant before pointing to the spot and although Frank Fielding saved Garath McCleary's penalty, Royals winger banged in the rebound for his seventh goal of the season.

Reading’s second goal seven minutes later came in less controversial fashion after some terrific build-up play between McCleary and Chris Gunter saw the latter hook a volley-cross into the box for Roy Beerens to meet with a first-time left-footed finish.

City piled on the pressure in the second half, and a late goal by Gary O’Neil four minutes from time had Jaap Stam's men on the ropes.

And Johnson's men were screaming for a penalty of their own at the death after suggesting Harriott had handled the ball in the box as he attempted to clear a cross.

However, Robinson turned down Robins' appeals, much to the frustration of Johnson who also claimed Samuel had tripped over his own feet to win his side a first-half penalty.

"I have to be careful, because if I keep talking about referees after a defeat, people will say I'm making excuses," fumed Johnson. "But it should never have been a penalty.

"Magnusson has not engaged their player. Samuel has come from behind and across him, taken his space and there has been a coming together. It was a tangle of legs. I believe my players deserve better.

"There were a lot of positives and, unfortunately, the decisions have not gone our way.

"Had they gone our way, I'm certain that game would have resulted in a Bristol City win."

And when asked if he felt Harriott had handled the ball in the closing stages, Johnson declared: "What do you think? Without being rude, their player has moved his arm towards the ball and it has hit him an inch below the shoulder.

"Funnily enough, it was the same linesman who gave the penalty against us in the first half."

However, Royals were keen to give their own side of the story, with Harriott insisting the ball hit him on the shoulder.

The 22-year-old said: “I’m about 5ft 5ins, so I don’t know what it looked like to everyone else but it came off of my shoulder.

“It was good to get on the pitch, the last game I didn’t get on so I was pleased with that.

“It was important to keep the concentration. When I came on we were 2-0 up but we conceded and the game changed. We were on the back foot.

“We stuck to what we were doing and we have to credit the defenders because they did so well.”

Samuel also refuted City's claims that he accidentally tripped in the build-up to the opening goal.

“People would say that (I fell over my own feet) but I was definitely tripped from behind,” declared the striker.

“We put in another great team performance. City knew our game plan and we had to switch it a bit.

“They are a quality team and we had to adapt to the way they play as well. It wasn’t a comfortable win but I’m glad we got it.

“Confidence is high right now but I’m just taking it one game at a time.”

Samuel also revealed McCleary had promised to hand over penalty-taking duties to him - only to change his mind at the weekend.

It almost backfired as McCleary's spot-kick was saved by Fielding, only for Royals' winger to slot home the rebound.

“He was on pens but he said to me next time I can have it,” quipped Samuel.

“Obviously he doesn’t stick to his word.”