McDermott pleased with Boro point after Royals comeback

Sportsdesk • Published 20 Mar 2010 17:00 0 Comments

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BRIAN McDermott hailed his side's character after Reading came from behind to draw 1-1 with Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

Chris Killen put the hosts ahead in the 47th minute but Royals secured a point when Boro defender David Wheater diverted Jimmy Kebe's 63rd minute cross into his own net.

The visitors threatened to snatch a late victory through Shane Long and Gylfi Sigurdsson but had to settle for a draw, their first in the Championship since the 1-1 against Swansea City on Boxing Day.

And McDermott said: "I'm happy with a point but I felt we were the team most likely to win it because we had good opportunities at the end.

"There was good shape about our team so it was a body blow when Boro scored.

"But our character came out again and I was really pleased with the performance.

"Today was really important psychologically to come here and play so well. Maybe we could have nicked that game."

Royals' confidence was sky high after a staggering eight wins in nine league games - the best form of any team in England and second best in Europe behind Real Madrid.

But while they have strung six straight home wins together in the Championship, they had not played away in the league since a 2-0 defeat at Blackpool exactly a month ago.

Even so, it was no surprise to see McDermott stick with the same 11 players and bench who beat QPR 1-0 at home on Tuesday.

That meant a start for Matt Mills who was fined and discipled for aiming a one-fingered gesture at Royals fans late on in that game.

Boro, who were unbeaten in seven at the Riverside, named ex-Royals striker Leroy Lita on the bench while key midfield man Julio Arca passed a fitness.

But Strachan did make a change in goal where Danny Coyne was replaced by Brad Jones, a rival of Adam Federici's for a place in Australia's World Cup squad.

The hosts had most of the ball in the early period but the best chance fell to Reading when Mills headed wide from close range from a Kebe cross.

Strachen's side hit back with Killen missing with a header then Arca picked up a yellow for lunging at Jobi McAnuff.

Clear-cut chances were hard to come by and Royals perhaps should have taken greater advantage on the half-hour mark when McAnuff stood up an excellent cross at the back-post.

Long nipped in between two defenders but his well-directed header was met with an even better Jones save.

It led to a strong spell from Reading who suddenly became a yard quicker in every department and looked the hungrier side.

Sadly, their final ball occasionally let them down, Brian Howard trying an impossible shot when Long was screaming for a pass.

Boro also saw Scott McDonald go close with a header from one of their better attacks.

Royals were well in the game and needed a decent start to the season half - only to concede a mere 90 seconds of the restart.

Gary O'Neil found Justin Hoyte and the ex-Arsenal youngster's cross was nodded in by Killen, who climbed above Andy Griffin.

Then O'Neil nearly caught Royals napping moments later when his clever effort forced Federici, expecting the cross, to tip-over.

McDermott's men quickly recovered from the blow with Kebe shooting wide with men in support.

But Kebe's decision-making was spot-on when a piece of magic led to his side's 63rd minute equaliser.

The quicksilver winger left Emanuel Pogatetz for dead, cut in front the bye-line and drilled the ball across the six-yard box.

Wheater stuck out a leg in desperation only to poke the ball into his own net.

It was a deserved equaliser, but Royals went in search of three points with Long fluffing a chance after another piece of Kebe magic.

But Boro would not lie down, O'Neil replying from a long-way out before Strachan threw on Lita with 16 minutes to go.

Reading coped with that pressure comfortably and almost snatched all three points at the death when Sigurdsson was denied twice by Jones.

A draw was a decent result and the only real disappointment was the serious-looking knee injury to Ivar Ingimarsson.

Royals' skipper was replaced by Zurab Khizanishvili who could now start at Leicester City on Wednesday.

The draw ended Royals four-game winning streak in the league, but they are unbeaten in five, a point taking them above Preston into 13th place in the table.

McDedrmott added: "We're flying back which is useful, it really makes such a difference rather than a six hour bus journey.

"We really appreciate our supporters today. When we got off the bus from the airport we saw 50 of our guys waiting for us, it was brilliant."

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Jones - Hoyte (Naughton 65), Grounds, Pogatetz, Wheater - O'Neil (c), Robson, Franks (Emnes 86), Arca - Killen, McDonald (Lita 74) Subs not used: Coyne, Riggott, Taylor, Miller. Booked: Arca, Robson, Killen.

Reading (4-4-1-1): Federici - Griffin, Ingimsrsson © (Khizanishvili 90), Mills, Berrand - McAnuff, Tabb, Howard, Kebe - Sigurdsson - Long. Subs not used: Hamer, Gunnarsson, Matejovsky, Church, Robson-Kanu, Rasiak.

Referee: Andy Hall (West Midlands).

Attendance: 17,082 (Reading 375).

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