JAAP Stam described the performance of George Evans as 'terrific' after he helped Reading FC to keep a clean sheet against Birmingham City.

Evans had been dropped from last night's starting line-up with Stam choosing Stephen Quinn instead.

But he answered his manager's emergency call when Joey van den Berg tweaked a hamstring in the warm-up.

The ex-Manchester City midfielder was rock solid in a three-man central defence alongside Liam Moore and skipper Paul McShane as they kept Blues at bay in the 0-0 stalemate.

Royals boss Stam said: “It was always my intention to play three at the back.

“We knew Birmingham would probably play 4-4-2 and we wanted to start with Joey van den Berg in the middle of two centre-backs.

“He picked up a hamstring injury in the warm-up so we knew we had to play George in that position.

“He did a terrific job today. He has play in that position, he's done it before.”

Tuesday night's bore draw extended Reading's unbeaten league run to four matches, while ending a sequence of four successive defeats against Birmingham in the process.

Danny Williams, Yann Kermorgant and Paul McShane went close to breaking the deadlock for the home side, while David Cotterill, Jonathan Spector and Lukas Jutkiewicz had decent chances for the visitors.

But neither team could find net on a frustrating night at Madejski Stadium.

“From my point of view we always want to win, whether we're home or away,” insisted Stam.

“It wasn't easy because Birmingham are a tough side. If you come up against a team that plays like they them, you have to be consistent in what you do.

“In the first half I thought we were impatient at times. We were trying to go forward but passing the ball too quickly and Birmingham would pick it up and counter attack. They are a very dangerous team.

“A good thing from the game is that if you are playing a team which drops in deep, it gives space away on the sides and you don't concede goals.”

Despite a late change of personnel at the back, this was Reading's second clean sheet in three Championship matches.

When asked whether Royals would have lost the game last season, Stam answered: “I haven't seen any of last season's games so I can't judge.

“But I'm pleased with how we played. We had a lot of possession but should have created more chances.

“To play in extreme heat wasn't easy either.”

There were murmurs of discontent from Royals supporters during the previous home fixture against Ipswich Town, which Stam's men won 2-1 thanks to a late Danny Williams penalty.

However, Stam believes the vast majority of fans are right behind him.

“We want to make a point out of this,” he declared. “If you look at the last game there was only a brief 10 second period where the fans booed.

“Suddenly everyone is saying the crowd has been booing for 90 minutes and that is not at all the case.

“I think tonight's crowd wanted to see goals of course, that's what we wanted as well.

“But I think they have been very positive in all the games so far and really helped the players.”

Tonight's result moved Reading up one place to 10th in the Championship table.

Stam's side face a stern test this Saturday when they go to third-placed Barnsley, who won 4-0 at Wolves.