Published: Tuesday, 19th January, 2010 12:00pm

McDermott staying positive for battle ahead

by Anthony Smith

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BRIAN McDermott is convinced Reading have enough quality players to stay up despite Saturday's setback at Nottingham Forest.

Royals lost 2-1 at the City Ground leaving McDermott still searching for his first Championship victory as temporary boss.

The defeat also plunged them deeper into relegation trouble in 21st position, just one point above the relegation zone but four point adrift of Scunthorpe in 20th place.

And while the FA Cup fourth round home tie against Burnley on Saturday (12.45pm ko) will be a welcome distraction, it is next Tuesday's league fixture at promotion-chasing Sheffield United (7.45pm) that is of greater importance.

But McDermott is backing his side to stay in the division and he says the supporters have a key role to play.

"It's a big few months ahead for us now," declared the 48-year-old. "I'm not going to start making predictions but I'm absolutely confident there's enough quality in our squad.

"We'll look to Burnley now and try and do what we've got to do. But everyone has to dig in including those who aren't playing, all the staff and everyone around the place, it's so important."

And he added: "The only message is that out supporters are going to be massive over the next 21 games. We're in the position we're in and we're going to need them.

"I know they'll get behind us. They were terrific at Forest and stayed behind to clap. They saw we were trying to get something from the game."

Last week summed up Reading's woes this season.

On Wednesday they celebrated their first ever victory at Anfield by deservedly knocking a near-full strength Liverpool side out of the FA Cup.

But they were dreadful in the first-half at Forest on Saturday and could have been four or five down.

As it was Billy Davies' high fliers led 2-0 at the break through Paul Anderson and Rob Earnshaw but Royals came back strongly in the second-half only to blow a penalty chance in the 67th minute.

Ex-Reading full-back Nicky Shorey was red carded for a trip on impressive substitute Jimmy Kebe but Brian Howard's spot kick was saved by the outstanding Lee Camp.

Kebe did net a consolation in injury-time but it was too little too late and 10-man Forest held on to extend their unbeaten league run to 18 matches.

McDermott added: "We weren't at the races in the first-half and you can't go to a place like Forest and not do your stuff for 90 minutes.

"But in the second-half we restored pride in the shirt and I thought we could have nicked something. Their keeper was man-of-the-match.

"We had to re-jig at half-time. Forest had too much of the ball and we had to change our shape. We went to three in midfield and we tried to get Brian Howard on the ball just in behind.

"We got Jimmy Kebe on later to play up against Nicky Shorey, so we were just trying to change things to get back into the game.

"I'm just disappointed about how we did in the first-half. They were good and we were poor. It's as simple as that really. We didn't win enough battles early on.

"Forest are a top side and they've got every chance of going up this year, so you can't come here and give two goals away. But we were better in the second-half and I thought we could go on to win, never mind get a draw."

And McDermott refused to blame the extra travelling in midweek and lack of preparation time for his team's poor first-half display.

"It was a long journey from Liverpool with players getting back at 5am, but you can't use that as an excuse," he stated.

"We're looking forward to Burnley and to having a full week with the squad. Since I took the job I haven't had the opportunity to train for a week on the grass because of the weather."

Royals defender Matt Mills can play against Burnley despite picking up his fifth booking of the season at Nottingham Forest, as the deadline for suspensions was December 31.

Gylfi Sigurdsson (foot) and Marek Matejovsky (groin) will both have fitness tests having missed the Forest trip.

Ex-Royal Andre Bikey is not available for the Clarets as he is on duty with Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations.

Bikey was sent off playing for Reading against Burnley in last season's Championship play-off semi-final which the Clarets won 3-0.

NICHOLAS Bignall cracked a hat-trick as Reading reserves won 3-2 at Southampton reserves yesterday.

The 19-year-old striker returned from a loan spell at Stockport County recently and wants to fight for a place in the Royals' first-team.

Reading: Hamer, Cummings, Isaac, Henry, Pearce, Macdonald, Bell Baggie, Vasilev, Bignall, Taylor, Kanu

Subs: D'Ath, Santangelo, Rowe, Mills, Walcott.

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