McDermott agrees with postponement

Reading manager Brian McDermott has agreed with the officials call to postpone the Royals’ game at Sunderland yesterday, due to a waterlogged pitch.

The 51-year old and his side travelled up to the north-east on the Friday via plane, but were told at 1.30pm on Saturday that the game was not going to be played at the Stadium of Light. The pitch suffered a heavy down poor in the previous 24 hours and was not able to withstand it, which caused many to ask questions.

Speaking to the official Reading FC website, McDermott said: ‘There’s no way we could have played the game. The ball wasn’t going anywhere and obviously it was a shock to us. I got a text from a friend as I arrived to say there was a possibility it could be off, I thought it must be a joke but obviously not!’

‘To have a game called off in August is unusual but it is what it is. Apparently they trained here Thursday and it was perfect then but it was unplayable today. Now we’ve got Peterborough on Tuesday in the Capital One Cup and we think we’re close to arranging a game in Ireland next Sunday as well.’