Brian McDermott praised Reading for rediscovering their form and earning a fourth-round Capital One Cup tie at home to Arsenal after beating Queens Park Rangers 3-2.

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Royals had to come from behind twice at Loftus Road.

Junior Hoilett put Mark Hughes' side into a 14th-minute lead with a brilliant solo effort, but Kaspars Gorkss equalised with a bullet header two minutes later.

Djibril Cisse then hammered home from 25-yards in the 71st minute before Nicky Shorey curled a free-kick in off the bar four minutes later.

Pavel Pogrebnyak back-heeled the winner with less than 10 minutes remaining for McDermott's largely changed side

"It was a great night," said the Reading boss.

"We talked a lot about the identity of our team and this week has been a case of stripping us back to what we're about.

"I think you saw what we are about in the very first two or three minutes of the game, the way we closed down, the tempo of our game, everything we did.

"Nicky's goal was terrific, Sean Morrison's block on Cisse's shot at the end was one of the highlights of the night, Jimmy Kebe was exceptional for our team tonight - it was great to have him back.

"All our players worked really, really hard all night and I'm so proud of them. We lost our identity a bit in the last two games, but tonight we got it back."

McDermott made seven changes to his starting XI with only Alex McCarthy, Pavel Pogrebnyak, Kaspars Gorkss and Nicky Shorey keeping their places from the 1-0 defeat to West Brom.

Kebe's return was one of the highlights of the League Cup win and he will now be unleashed against Newcastle United on Saturday at Madejski Stadium (3pm kick-off).

And McDermott added: "It's about results. I'm not stupid. But having said that, the performances have to be there.

"Whatever team we put out, has to be a 'Reading' team. That's important. I feel we've let our fans down a little bit in the last two games and I hate doing that.

"Tonight has been a good night for our fans - and that's who we play for.

"The boys are feeling good now, but We move on quickly after a win, a draw or a loss. So it's all about producing a performance against Newcastle on Saturday."

Reading: McCarthy, Cummings, Shorey, Mariappa (Morrison, 78), Gorkss, Karacan, Tabb, Robson-Kanu, Kebe (McCleary, 70), Hunt, Pogrebnyak.

Subs not used: Taylor, Gunter, McAnuff, Church, Le Fondre.

QPR: Cesar, Hill, Mbia, Park (C) (Zamora, 67) , Cisse, Mackie, Granero, Onouha, Dyer (Nelson, 65), Hoilett, Faurlin (Diakite, 88).

Subs not used: Green, Derry, Wright-Phillips, Ehmer.

Referee: Roger East.
Attendance: 11,562 (1,495 away).

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