Brian: We need to stick together

Reading manager Brian McDermott has said the players and fans need to stick together through this tough period, with relegation appearing to be on the horizon.

The Royals lost their third consecutive Premier League game against Everton yesterday, losing 3-1 at Goodison Park. McDermott’s men have some tough games coming up through the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, but the former Slough boss has encouraged Royals fans to remain optimistic.

Speaking to the Official Reading FC website, McDermott said: ‘We have to stick together as a group, it`s really important – that result today won`t affect what happens to us next Saturday. I thought at times today, the first half in particular, we played that game on the front foot. We had opportunities from set plays and from open play.’

“Of course there`s a bit of frustration, we`ve had an opportunity with Adam Le Fondre`s shot that`s smashed against the post at 0-0. If that goes in it`s obviously a different game. Everton are a side that are trying to get in the Champions League and they have some top, top players. The second goal was world class.”

Brian is being put back in the blame frame again by some Royals fans, but is this justified? It was always going to be hard to get results with this current crop of players, but when the likes of Danny Guthrie and Daniel Carrico are not even in the squad, you have to question whether Brian has the full support of the Reading squad.