McDermott pleased to avoid banana skin

Reading manager Brian McDermott has admitted he was pleased with his side’s response to going behind early against Crawley and coming back to win the game.

The Royals were behind in an incredible 14 seconds into the game, as Nicky Adams struck the Red Devils ahead with a fine strike. Adam Le Fondre replied with an equaliser twelve minutes later, before Noel Hunt struck just before half time. Alfie’s penalty just four minutes into the second period, secured Reading’s name in the hat for the next round.

Speaking to the Official Reading FC website, McDermott said: ‘It was important for our fans that we did that. And I must say, our fans were absolutely terrific today, they kept the boys going. They were Absolutely fantastic. We knew this was going to be difficult today and after 14 seconds we were 1-0 down. It was a great strike to be fair.’

‘It’s very easy to panic when you go 1-0 down so early, but we got ourselves back into the game really well, with goals from Alfie and Noel. It wasn’t easy. Some of the football Crawley played was really good and the pitch wasn’t easy to play on – you have to play a certain way on a pitch like that.’