Reading boss Noel Hunt praised the impact of his substitutes in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic.
The Royals impressed throughout at the Brick Community Stadium but fell behind in the second half to Jason Kerr's header.
Digging deep to turn the tie around and keep up their six match unbeaten run, Jayden Wareham and Tyler Bindon completed the comeback which sees the club remain in the hunt for the play-offs.
Adrian Akande, Kelvin Abrefa, Andy Yiadom and Louie Holzman came off the bench and all made a key contribution with blocks, tackles and runs up in Lancashire.
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"It took him [Akande] a few minutes to get going but he’s been out for a long time. It doesn’t just come back; you have to lose the ball to get it back and get the rhythm and catch your breath. The PL2 games are brilliant for fitness but first-team games are an extra level of intensity and pressure. That’s where we have to get him to those levels. He did well when he came on, as did all the subs.
"Kelvin A came on and made a big tackle, Louie [Holzman] came on and had a big header from a dangerous ball. They all contributed, as they have done all season."
Needing the entire squad for the final 13 matches of the season, Hunt is hopeful of having another addition imminently as Michael Craig was rendered missing for the rest of the season with an injury.
