Royals show true grit in Palace triumph

Anthony Smith • Published 18 Feb 2010 12:00 0 Comments

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BRIAN McDermott hailed his side's `classy' performance at Selhurst Park as Reading crushed Crystal Palace 3-1 to climb out of the relegation zone.

But that was not the most pleasing aspect of the display for the Royals boss on a night when his side clinched their fourth successive Championship victory to shoot up the table from 22nd to 18th position.

While McDermott's rejuvenated men had skill and quality in abundance, they also got stuck in against a physical Eagles side.

And that, according to the Reading manager, gave them the platform to go on and win thanks to a Simon Church brace and a Jimmy Kebe strike.

"I think you saw 11 or 12 of them step up to the plate, the whole squad," drooled McDermott, who was without suspended in-form striker Shane Long.

"We had a certain way of playing, we wanted to play and they carried that through really well. I thought our resolve was excellent.

"That was a really resilient and, at times, classy performance. Our movement and skill on the ball was superb.

"But you also need to be able to mix it. If you go to places like Palace and you don't win your individual battles you're going to have a problem.

"We we won our battles all over the pitch and some of our play was excellent."

There were concerns over where the goals would come from with Long beginning his four match ban.

But Royals were a threat all night with most of their attacks coming through the outstanding Kebe.

Cash-strapped Palace were clearly fired up for this massive basement six-pointer and burst out of the traps.

Dangerman Darren Ambrose tested Adam Federici three times early on with long-range rockets.

But the Aussie keeper was in imperious form and his one-handed stop just five minutes in to keep out a ferocious Ambrose volley at just full-stretch was arguable the save of the match.

Royals snatched a 23rd minute when ex-Palace winger Jobi McAnuff crossed for Church whose first-time volley hit the turf and bounced over Eagles keeper Julian Speroni.

Wales striker Church then wasted a glorious chance to double Reading's lead shortly before the break.

Howard's defence-splitting pass set up a two-on-one attack. But with Kebe waiting for the simplest of tap-ins, Church's touch was too heavy and Speroni collected.

The beginning of the second half mirrored the first with Federici performing more heroics to deny who else but Ambrose from all of 30 yards.

And just seconds later Royals did grab their second on 47 minutes with a brilliant first-time strike by Kebe from Brynjar Gunnarsson's cross.

Church then hit the post after Andy Griffin set him up and it looked like being a costly miss when Palace pulled one back on 55 minutes through sub Sean Scannell.

But Royals refused to let this one slip away and continued to dominate while Palace began losing their heads.

Claude Davis was certainly lucky to stay on the pitch after shoving substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson in the back not long after he had been booked for a nasty tackle on Kebe who had beaten five players on a superb 60-yard dash.

But any nerves were settled when Church netted a third in the 81st minute by sweeping the ball past Speroni from a Matt Mills pull-back.

The victory saw Reading climb above Ipswich, Palace, Sheffield Wednesday and QPR and they are now two points above the drop zone.

Neil Warnock's Eagles, however, are 21st with just goal difference keeping them out of the relegation zone following their recent 10 point deduction for slipping into administration.

McDermott added: "It was pointless putting pressure on the players because they knew themselves what a big game this was.

"But they're enjoying themselves and they've got a good little spirit going. When you come to places like this and win it gives you even more spirit.

"We've won four in a row and we're proud as a group. But it's the players who are competing on the pitch. They're doing very well and they're playing some good football."

The result also leaves Royals 12 points off the play-offs with up to two games in hand on some clubs above them.

But McDermott's laughed at the thought of a top-six finish.

"We've got Blackpool on Saturday, that's all we've got," he smirked. "We're trying to win that game, that's all."

Crystal Palace: (4-4-1-1): Speroni - Butterfield, Davis, Hill, Clyne - Danns (Scannell 44), Ertl, Derry, Carle (N'Diaye 64) - Ambrose - Andrew (Lee 46). Subs not used: Hills, Lawrence, Djilali, Mann. Booked: Scannell 59, Davis 68.

Reading: (4-4-1-1): Federici - Griffin, Mills, Khizanishvili, Bertrand - McAnuff, Gunnarsson, Karacan, Kebe - Howard (Sigurdsson 77) - Church (Robson-Kanu 90). Subs not used: Hamer, Cisse, Rasiak, Pearce, Thorvaldsson. Booked: Griffin 89.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northants).

Attendance: 13,259 (Reading 833).

* BRIAN McDermott faces a grilling tonight (Thursday) at the STAR Fans Forum.

The event takes place at the Madejski Stadium from 8pm onwards.

It is open to all star members. Non-members can join on the night or online at www.star-reading.org.

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