McDermott revels in crucial victory

Reading manager Brian McDermott has revealed he was extremely satisfied by his team’s win against a resolute Leeds side.

The game had a very feisty edge, with the visitors having Zac Thompson sent off on 12 minutes after a lunge on captain Jobi McAnuff. Leeds frustrated the Royals for long periods of the game, until substitute Adam Le Fondre’s late double secured all three crucial points for Reading in the extremely tight promotion race.

McDermott told the official RFC site: ‘Our boys have done everything they could to get a victory for our fans. As I said it’s a different way of winning, and if you’re going to do anything in life, in football, you have to do that. I was so delighted when it went in, it was a long time coming. Playing against ten men is sometimes very difficult.’

‘I’ve got a great group of players here and great people, and we just had to keep going, keep knocking on the door for a chance, an opportunity. We got the two goals and showed real quality to get them in the end. It looked like being a frustrating afternoon at times, but we came through. It was a great header from Hal and Alfie was on the spot to score.’

The win took Reading to the top of the Championship for the first time in six years, but this could be for a tempory period if Southampton get a result against local rivals Portsmouth. McDermott will now prepare his squad for another south-coast game against play-off chasing Brighton and Hove Albion.