Published: Tuesday, 9th February, 2010 12:00pm

Confident McDermott seeks Pilgrims revenge

by Anthony Smith

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Injury doubt: Gylfi Sigurdsson faces a fitness test before tonight's crucial clash against Plymouth Argyle.

READING boss Brian McDermott believes his side are playing with a renewed confidence at Madejski Stadium ahead of tonight's massive relegation-six pointer against Plymouth Argyle (8pm ko).

Royals have won just two league games at home since January 2009 but McDermott is yet to suffer a defeat at the Mad Stad since he took over from Brendan Rodgers in December.

In addition they also beat Barnsley last time out, defeated Premier League Burnley in the FA Cup and held Liverpool to a draw before winning an historic Anfield replay.

And McDermott is desperate to see the stadium restored to the fortress it once was.

"It's a home game, we don't have to travel which is good and we're looking forward to playing in front of our own supporters," he said.

"They're buying into the cause and results have picked up at home. We've said we don't want to be where we are in the league but we just have to do things really, really slowly by chipping away and taking each game on its own merits."

Reading defeated Barnsley in their last home league match and followed that up with an excellent 2-1 victory at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday with Shane Long and Brian Howard scoring the all-important goals.

Now, if they beat Paul Mariner's struggling Pilgrims they will make it three-in-a-row in the league for the first time since December 2008.

Royals will also be desperate to avenge their 4-1 drubbing at Plymouth in the week after Christmas which ranks as the lowest point of McDermott's reign so far.

"It's gone on record that it was a disappointing day, we've had to leave that behind," he explained.

"That was the one game we really let ourselves and the supporters down so we don't want that to happen again."

McDermott will make at least one chance from the side that beat Donny as Matt Mills serves a one-match suspension for picking up a harsh red card against his old club.

"Matt was unfortunate," argued McDermott. "The ball hit his chest and then hit him on the arm. But sometimes with these things you appeal and you end up getting banned for two or three games instead.

"We'll live with that, we've got a good squad and the players that come in will do well I'm sure."

Alex Pearce or Zurab Khizanishvili will fill the defensive void while leading scorer Gylfi Sigurdsson faces a late fitness test on a foot injury that prevented him from making the trip to Keepmoat last weekend.

However, injured midfield schemer Marek Matejovsky is still unavailable after suffering a fresh knock in training.

Argyle are without captain Karl Duguid after he came off injured in Saturday's 1-0 home loss to West Brom.

David McNamee will come in for the crocked right-back and Royals winger Jobi McAnuff will be hoping to exploit any possible weakness down that flank.

Reading are one place above Argyle in 22nd position but they have five more points on the board.

McDermott's men are now only a point behind Ipswich Town and could haul themselves out of the relegation zone tonight if results go their way.

SEE the Chronicle website for live coverage of tonight's game.............