Reading FC

McDermott: Reading FC deserved point against Stoke City

By Jonny Fordham
August 18, 2012

Brian McDermott believes justice was served after Adam Le Fondre fired home a late penalty to get a 1-1 draw with Stoke City.

Reading went 1-0 behind when Adam Federici spilled Michael Kightly's 35th minute shot in calamitous style.

But Le Fondre spurred his keeper's blushes when he slotted past Asmir Begovic just two minutes from time when Dean Whitehead tripped Garath McCleary in the box and was sent off for a second yellow card.

And a relieved McDermott said:"I think it would have been unjust if we had lost but injustices are no good to anyone, you have to get results and we've done that.

"We wanted to win it after we got to 1-1, and I thought Ian Harte was going to score with his free kick, it was close and should have been a corner.

"But at 1-0 down in the 90th minute you have no choice but to take a point, and psychologically it is really good for us.

"For the first half an hour or so I thought we were the better side and then they scored a freak goal. I don't have to say anything to Adam [Federici], he's a top class and bloke and goalkeeper.

"Everyone makes mistakes, I know I make plenty of them myself and I have no problem with him at all.

"Going behind knocked the stuffing out of us a bit and we found it hard to get going in the heat so we'll take that today.

"You have to stay in games, we've done that many times, especially late on. Our fans know that and nobody was leaving early."

Le Fondre was last season's super-sub, but he is now looking to cement a regular place in McDermott's starting line-up alongside Pavel Pogrebnyak.

"If Alfie gets a chance he generally scores, and it's great he is off the mark," McDermott added.

"He has nerves of steel, he'll wait as long as it takes. It's what he does and I don't care what division it is, he'll score."

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Most recent user comments 6 of 6

GMac was excellent when he came on but he was running against defenders who had toiled in the sun for over an hour. I doubt he would have had the same impact if he'd started. GMac, and Ledge and Guthrie, aside, it was a disappointing performance. Stoke are one of the weakest Prem teams this year - look how many points they won after Christmas and they've not changed their squad much - and we could and should have beaten them. Despite what BMac says publically, he will have been disappointed that his team did not perform well enough to have deserved all 3 points. That said, we will improve. BMac will make sure we do.

LarryS
21/08/2012 at 15:41

McCleary was superb, an excellent signing if he carries on like this. Imagine being a Stoke supporter having to watch that cynical kind of football every week.

Uncle Buck, Reading
20/08/2012 at 20:22

Striker required! Why can't McDermott see that Church and Hunt are not up to the job?

If HRK doesn't get dropped then McDermott has lost his marbles! McCleary was excellent and must start next game.

Tilehurst Ender, Spencers wood
20/08/2012 at 19:27

Good performance from the team, but disappointed with Jobi's contribution. Guthrie and Legertwood were excellent and when McCleary came on he changed the game. One criticism, why does Feds always kick the ball out to the left?. In my view he needs to vary his distribution.

Royals1871
20/08/2012 at 10:48

@Dickemery: Good things come to those that wait... I hope?! I'm wandering if the heat had something to do with it. I came away from Saturday looking like a lobster, so I can't imagine a pale blonde Russian, who had to run about faired much better. He looked a lot sharper against Palace so if we can get some cooler matchdays, hopefully it'll be his performances that hot things up.

Secondly I seemed to keep noticing that over pre-season it was Church and Hunt who seemed to be getting all the game time. It hardly seems surprising to hear some say Pav and Alf looked like starngers to each other.

Hopeful Hoops, Reading
20/08/2012 at 08:57

good alround perfomence by reading, they didnt look out of place against a decent prem team ,but the russian had no understanding or could contain possesion a disappoiting display from him