Reading FC

McDermott: Reading FC masters of their own downfall

By Jonny Fordham
November 24, 2012

Brian McDermott slammed his Reading players for their inability to see out the game as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at Wigan.

Sean Morrison headed Royals into a 35th-minute lead before Jordi Gomez started the Latics comeback on the hour mark.

Gomez then put the hosts in front 10 minutes later before an Ali Al Habsi clanger gifted Reading a lifeline.

However, shocking defending in the last minute saw Gomez complete his hat-trick in stoppage time to dump Reading back into the relegation zone.

And McDermott bemoaned: "At 90-odd minutes gone we had the ball in the corner and we have to take a point.

“Both teams had had opportunities but you have to take the point. Any point away is a decent one.

“We have to learn from that very quickly because this league is unforgiving. We have to see games through.

"The bottom line is that we've given a goal away with a minute to go which is crazy, just crazy and that was down to us.

“We have to take a draw at least, we were masters of our own downfall.

“We've got enough experience out there to know the momentum of the game."

Jay Tabb was denied what McDermott felt was a definite penalty and Adam Le Fondre also saw an effort well saved by Al Habsi.

McDermott continued: "The ref missed a stonewall penalty, we've not had too many of those.

“That would have made it 2-1, it's very unfortunate but we have to move on quickly. I thought at the time it was a pen, and I've seen it again.

“I was surprised a referee of Howard Webb's calibre missed that one.

“If he doesn't give it he's got to book Jay for diving. I said to the linesman he's got to see that.

"In the dressing room we had a conversation and I said to the players the same thing, we have to be ruthless. Over the years we've scored many late goals, but it's tough to stomach when it goes against you.

"At half time I thought we were going to win, but football is about results.

“We are really, really disappointed but we'll pick ourselves up quickly, we have no other choice."

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Most recent user comments 21 of 21

No.1 - Gorks out.

No.2 - Jobi must be substituted sometimes. He had a bad game but stayed on the pitch at the expense of Tabb who was very good again.

Fishlips
26/11/2012 at 14:07

And for the record Johnny, one is a master of one's destiny and an architect of one's downfall. It doesn't really work if you mix them together :-)

JJB
26/11/2012 at 13:38

Why is everyone moaning so much, yes we are not playing very well at the moment and clearly we lack quality in this league. But you cannot fault the players effort. The players are giving everything they have got at the moment. BM is the by far and away the best man for the job, give the guy a chance, it was only 6 months ago everyone was singing his praises and now everyone is moaning about him and team selections etc. Lets get behind the team and cheer them all the way, relegation or not! URZ!

AC Loyal Royal, Reading
26/11/2012 at 11:27

With the game against Villa coming so quickly, maybe we'll see some changes in the team line-up.

Time Gorkss had a rest....so Mariappa ahead of Pearce for me, just for pace.

Cummings needs another shot as Gunter hasn't been consistent and only seems to get forward late on in the game (if at all).

....and Jobi, please, please, please....100% for 90mins, run until you're sick and have to be subbed.

Lester Crinklesack
26/11/2012 at 11:11

Feds did not have a bad game...nuff said.

Lester Crinklesack
26/11/2012 at 11:03

A.XYZ You cannot be serious! The incident when Shorey cleared off the line happened after Feds closed down a free forward very quickly and took all of the pace off his initial shot. The commenators praised it as being a great save! Reacting too slowly to that header? Did you not see the pace on it from just a few yards out? No keeper would have got to that one quickly enough, other than by taking a gamble before the guy even connected. Keepers are coached to position themselves and then react, not guess (with the possible exception of penalties)!

HARB
25/11/2012 at 21:30

I made the point a couple of weeks ago, after the Norwich game, that we could quite easily have been beaten due to our charitable attitude of allowing our opponents to cross the ball at will. None of that old fashioned closing down for us!

Wigan had cleary worked out that if they moved the ball out to their left flank, then they were virtually guaranteed a chance to centre the ball (without fear of resistance).

Gunter's having an absolute nightmare, but what support is he getting from his team mates? Funny, when Kebe plays, that the opposition manage to double up on him, but we leave our right back exposed and out of his depth.

I don't suppose that there is any chance of us learning from our mistakes, is there? Again no midfield option on the bench and Kaspers looking considerably more unsettled by any pace and movement than a competent Premier League centre back really should be.

Can we please stop speculating about January transfer activity. BM has said that he hasn't yet been informed of his budget and, more to the point, if we can't start winning the odd game we may even be bottom by then (let's hope not, though).

Unless we learn to pass the ball (Shorey being an honourable exeption) and realise that we can't play the ball hopefully forward in the vague direction of a colleague we'll continue to struggle.

Our style of play can only prosper if we can field a player with the qualities of Shane Long up front. I'm not sure whether BM has noticed, but we desperately lack that option.

Finally, I recall last week it being pointed out that we defeated Everton without our 'stellar' signings. Who are they then? Shorey aside, we've bought players who fiit into two categories. Firstly, those of mid table Championship standard (at best) and secondly a category which comprises of individual who don't fit into our primitive stle of play. Well done, everyone.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
25/11/2012 at 21:01

Harbs.

The first goal Feds pushed straight out to the Wigan player (which he almost did a couple off other times in the game..) He also fumbled the ball before Wigan scored which Shorey cleared off the line (these could have lead to more goals thats what I mean by at least 2 ) The Second went under his dive ..ie slow to react The third was a total team B***'s UP

A. XYZ
25/11/2012 at 20:48

Another vote here for Gorkss & Gunter out. Both were shocking. Pearce & Cummings can't be any worse. Morrison was immense. Shudder to think what would have happened without him.

vento
25/11/2012 at 20:28

drop gorks

churchie
25/11/2012 at 20:02

Tilehurst. The owner put his money where his mouth was and, with the exception of Roberts and Shorey, McDermott wasted it. Why would he trust McDermott with more?

HARB
25/11/2012 at 19:57

Wigan deserved 3pts, - we better start winning and bringing better players or we are down. About time the owner puts his money where his mouth is!

Tilehurst Ender, Spencers wood
25/11/2012 at 18:40

Would those blaming Feds for 2 (and in one case at least 2) please explain how the hell they make that out. Yes, he could have done better for their first but the other two?!!

HARB
25/11/2012 at 16:51

McDermott is now spouting nonsense. Webb made a big error but that doesn't necessarily mean he needs to book Tabb for diving. Equally McDermott conveniently forgets that Wigan had a perfectly good goal wrongly disallowed for offside and would have thrashed us had they made the most of the chances our weak midfield and defence gifted them.

Having been donated a point back by their keeper we could and should have held on for a point but McDermott then made one of his baffling substitutions. Rather than bring on Hunt who is great at defending from the front (as he showed against Everton) he opted for Pog!

McDermott was given money for transfers over the summer but most of his new signings rarely feature. He has fallen out with Guthrie because he won't/cant adapt to our style of play and Pearce doesn't even make the bench because of contractual issues.

Meanwhile, with us desperately lacking replacements in the centre of midfield, a squad place is occupied by Gunnarsson who can't even get on the bench!

A while back McDermott told us he was devising a plan to enable us to see out games when we take the lead. Well that plan appears to have been devised by Baldrick!

So yes, Brian, you have been the master of our downfall. Sadly you look very much out of your depth. You only appear to have one way of playing whereas at this level you need plans b and c at the very least.

HARB
25/11/2012 at 16:46

So very disappointing. It really is not acceptable that we played the way we did in the last 2 minutes. You sit on the ball by the corner flag like EVERY team does especially away from home!

Southampton are beating Newcastle (at the moment) something we failed to do. We lost to a fellow bottom six side. Pressure is huge on the Villa game now. If we lose that I worry for BM's position.

Clearly the wrong players were signed in the summer. There is little prem quality in the team and way short of strength in depth especially in cm. Our best 11 is not good enough even with all fit.

Brian has to make some hard decisions now. Drop one or two of your favourites and change formation and style. Play 5-3-2 to include Guthrie.

It is not looking good is it? We need to be close to 20 points as possible going into the transfer window. That looks far off now.

If we are to stay up we MUST get results against the Wigans and Villas..

poru, Bournemouth
25/11/2012 at 15:47

Seems to be a recurring theme for us this season - taking the lead and not winning. We are losing and drawing games in the last minute or in injury time - that is what we did to several teams last season! Very frustrating when it happens the other way.

Struggling to see how Feds gets blamed for two goals - one yes where he needed to hold on to it rather than gifting a tap in but even that was not a howler (not in the Al Habsi class!!) Made a few important saves yesterday and a fair few more the week before - I don't thinks Feds is where the problems really lie.

My main concern and has been for a fair few matches is that Gorkks just seems lacking at the moment - For me his form since the Arsenal game has been poor, perhaps he needs a rest? Mariappa should get a go if fit & firing, he is certainly more mobile.

Cummings was poor against Fulham but Gunter whilst never playing badly doesn't inspire - a tough call that one.

A win against Villa and I would say that November has been a good month - but December looks a tough tough month.

Robsy , Reading
25/11/2012 at 14:04

“We have to learn from that very quickly because this league is unforgiving. We have to see games through."

Why does McD come out with these rediculous statements. It doesnt just gofor the premier league, but in ANY league. If you went 2-1 down away from home, and claw it back to 2-2, surely a point away from home is a good point in any league.

I was there on saturday, and the defence was all over the place. However, surely we have enough experienced players to know that pulling the game back to 2-2, (and the flukey way that we did) and there's 5 minutes to go, surely its keep possession, get 11 men behind the ball, park the bus for the point ?

I'm not saying it attractive, but we have to be able to shut the game down, or at least try to, but we didnt.

Why didn't McD have that in his plan ?

You cant go gun-ho in this league, you get punished, and that was the case on Saturday.

Now with Redknapp managing QPR, you have to expect them to get stronger throughout the rest of the season, especiallly if they strengthen in the Jan window, which I fully expect Harry to get funds to do that.

Every great team is built on a solid defence, and from Saturday's match, we are far from that.

I agree that also Feds was dubious for 2 goals, and the one were he just pushed it out in front of him for a tap in, whats that all about ?

Very frustrated.

Danny0367, Chorley, Lancashire
25/11/2012 at 13:34

Feds at fault for at least 2 goals...again When do you push the ball back into the 6 yard box when making a save, catch it or punch it out of play .. What's Taylor got to do to get a chance .That's the first time this season I've felt Reading actually let themselves down,saying that if that was a Man Utd player instead off Tabb, Webb would have given a pen every day of the week.

A. XYZ
25/11/2012 at 11:24

BMD, you need to get our defence sorted pronto. I thought scoring goals would be our main problem not letting them in this season! Gorks is shocking, is he carrying an injury?

love buddha, Berkshire
25/11/2012 at 10:10

Totally agree Southbank. Not sure what Pearce and Cummings have done to deserve to be dropped. Gorkes was just awful yesterday running around like a headless chicken and out of position for all 3 goals. Pearce can't be any worse, surely.

Talylor, Shorey, Cummings, Pearce and Morrsion would be my choice Tuesday but what do i know ? I just pay my hard earned cash each week to watch a Championship team living a dream!

Just My Opinion
25/11/2012 at 09:53

Time for a slight change for Tuesday Brian - get Cummings and Pearce in instead of Gorks & Gunter. Don't make the same mistake as Coppell - sticking with his 'favoured' players when they weren't performing.......