READING FC boss Brian McDermott felt his side deserved all three points from Saturday's 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Royals paid the price for another sloppy start when Gary Hooper fired the Owls into a 10th minute lead moments after Barry Bannan had already hit the post.

But McDermott's men fought back strongly and, although Matej Vydra slammed a 22nd minute penalty against the woodwork, they equalised through Jake Cooper's 74th minute header from an Oliver Norwood corner.

It was Cooper's first goal of the season and Reading's first from a corner in 187 attempts.

The home side could even have snatched a last-gasp win, but new signing Yann Kermorgant missed the target from six yards out with seconds remaining.

Nevertheless, McDermott was pleased with his players for holding an in-form Sheffield Wednesday side, who had won six of their previous seven games.

"We should have won," he declared. "We're giving teams a goal start at the moment which is no good and we need to work on that.

“But, having said that, for the last 70 minutes we were in the ascendancy, we were the better team against the form team in the league and a club who have spent a fortune.

"We weren't quite tough enough in the first half and they got the goal, they sat behind the ball, and we had to break them down.

“Players miss penalties now and again, that's life. But we kept going, showed good quality, good resolve to get back into it. And Yann gave us another dimension in the second half as we tried to do what it takes to win.”

McDermott also singled out 20-year-old Cooper, after the 6ft 7ins centre-back nodded home Norwood's flag kick.

"It was great that Coops has scored from a corner, it something we haven't done enough recently, s I'm delighted with that,” added McDermott.

“We've had a little chance right at the end which could have made it 2-1, so there's a slight tinge of disappointment that we haven't won the game.

"We came from behind to win 5-2 against Huddersfield in the FA Cup the other night, we've come from behind again to draw and we came from behind at Derby, so I've got no concerns about this team's ability to come from behind.

“The most important thing is that we don't go behind in the first place.

"But the boys have showed real courage to get something against a good side. They showed resilience, resolve and desire. It's a team game and, as a group, the did us proud.

"I thought we were going to go on to win it and they'll be delighted they've got a point.

“Our fans really got behind the team, right to the end and we can be proud of our performance. We should have won, but we'll take the point."

Reading now have a week to prepare for the FA Cup fourth round home tie against Walsall at Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

"Since I've arrived I don't think I've been home before half past ten, 11 o'clock at night," he quipped. "So it's good that we can have a bit of time to do some good work as a group this week.

"We've got a couple of games planned that some of the lads might play in, but I'm looking forward to getting a full week in ahead of the cup game against Walsall next weekend."

McDermott also confirmed  Stephen Quinn strained his back last week, but the Republic of Ireland international should be available for Saturday (3pm ko).

Meanwhile, McDermott suggested out-of-favour striker Orlando Sa is likely to depart on loan this week, with AEK Athens a possible destination.

Reading continue to be heavily linked with Latvia striker Deniss Rakels, according to reports in Poland.

The 23-year-old is hot property in Europe after bagging 15 goals in 20 games for Cracovia Kraków this season.

The likes of Belgian side Brugge plus a couple of Bundesliga clubs are also tracking the forward who represented Latvia at youth levels and has 15 senior international caps.

Media in Poland are now reporting he is set to join the Royals for around £400,000.

If the deal goes through he will become Reading's third January signing following the arrival of Kermorgant from Bournemouth and George Evans from Manchester City.