McDermott: 'We must defend better.'

Anthony Smith • Published 13 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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BRIAN McDermott will give his players one clear message when they face cash-strapped Portsmouth at Fratton Park this Saturday - don’t concede sloppy goals (3pm ko).

Reading’s casual display in defence cost them dearly last weekend when they were beaten 2-1 by relegation candidates Scunthorpe United at the Madejski Stadium.

It was a bitter pill to swallow as Royals went into the opening Championship game in buoyant mood following an excellent pre-season campaign. But McDermott knows they will get nowhere unless they tighten up at the back.

Royals did bounce back on Tuesday night with a gritty extra-time 1-0 victory at League Two Torquay United in the Carling Cup first round thanks to a last-gasp winner from Grzegorz Rasiak.

Yet even at Plainmoor the defence looked shaky at times forcing Ben Hamer to make a string of crucial saves to preserve a clean sheet.

It was similar last Saturday as Scunny’s first goal came from a defensive lapse - and a slice of luck when a cross deflected off Andy Griffin and ran to Garry Thompson who scored.

And, after Gylfi Sigurdsson had equalised, the Iron’s eventual winner came from a set-piece routine, with Rob Jones out-muscling stand-in skipper Matt Mills to head home from a corner.

“I was so disappointed, we all were,” admitted McDermott. “Things had gone so well in pre-season and we were very confident going into the game.

“So to lose the way we did conceding those goals really irritated me and everyone here.

“I suppose the result shows Scunthorpe can come to Reading and win and they can probably go anywhere and win. The same could be said of us, of course.

“But you can lose anywhere as well. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t do the things we did on Saturday which led to soft goals. We’ve worked hard on that this week.”

There was some consolation for the Royals in the fact that they were not the only Championship side to lose a game they were expected to win.

But it is hard to know what expectations there are on the south coast this season given Portsmouth perilous financial position.

There has been a wholesale clear-out following last season’s relegation from the Premier League and boss Steve Cotterill has a massive job on his hands.

Pompey lost 2-0 at Coventry City at the weekend and could only name four substitutes, though McDermott knows not to underestimate them.

“Portsmouth are a good side,” he argued. “I saw their Carling Cup game at Stevenage the other night and they still have seven or eight who played in the Premier League last season.

“I know they don’t have a big squad but there is no doubt they’re a good side. Our ambition now is just to win the next game. We are irritated by what happened on Saturday and we want to get it out of our system.

“We have to learn from it and be tougher and stronger and make sure we don’t concede from individual errors.”

Royals have sold out their entire allocation with more than 2,000 set to make the trip.

It will be Royals’ 5,000th competitive game in their 139-year history.

They also hold the distinction of being involved in the highest scoring Premier League game ever - a 7-4 defeat at Portsmouth in September 2007.

“I remember the 7-4, because I watched it last week on Sky’s ‘classics games,’” quipped McDermott. “I’m not sure it was classic as far as the defending was concerned.

“It was an amazing game, an unbelievable game. I hope it’s not like that on Saturday, and if it is I hope we get seven goals and they get four.”

Ex-Pompey player Andy Griffin is likely to skipper the side again if Matt Mills (ankle) fails a fitness test.

Royals will also assess Jobi McAnuff (ankle), Shane Long (hip), Simon Church (Knee), Jay Tabb and Noel Hunt (ankle) who are all doubtful for tomorrow’s clash.

That could mean Brynjar Gunnarsson and Alex Pearce may start in central-defence with Rasiak up front on his own.

Portsmouth are likely to feature former Royals duo Ibrahima Sonko and Jamie Ashdown plus Reading-born Hayden Mullins in their starting line-up.

Meanwhile, Reading captain Ivar Ingimarsson will step up his recovery from thigh surgery in March by playing in a reserves friendly against Leyton Orient next Tuesday.

READING’S Carling Cup second round tie against Northampton Town will take place at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday, August 24 (8pm).

Ticket prices have been slashed and they range from £7 for adults if bought in advance or £12 if purchased on the day.

Prices for Under 16s range from £2 for season ticket holders to £5. See the club’s website.

ROYALS keeper Alex McCarthy, who signed a new deal last week, has joined Brentford on a one-month loan.

He is expected to make his debut against Walsall tomorrow.

Promising winger Abdulai Bell-Baggie, 18, has joined Port Vale on loan.

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