'We owe the fans' vows Royals' boss
Anthony Smith • Published 29 Oct 2010 07:30
0 Comments
Share this
click to enlarge
Home raid: Brian McDermott and Brendan Rodgers embrace after Swansea City's 1-0 victory at the Madejski Stadium a fortnight ago.
See also:
ROYALS boss Brian McDermott has vowed to pay back the fans for their Swansea City shocker when Doncaster Rovers visit the Madejski Stadium tomorrow (3pm ko).
Reading’s supporters were forced to sit through 90 frustrating minutes in the last home fixture when former boss Brendan Rodgers avenged his sacking by leading the Swans to a 1-0 victory a fortnight ago.
It was their second home defeat in the Championship this season following their 2-1 loss to Scunthorpe on the opening day of the season.
But Reading’s record at the Mad Stad during McDermott’s reign has been exceptional and he wants to prove they are no pushovers on home turf by securing all three points against Donny.
“We’ve got a tough game but we’re back at home and we want to make it up to our supporters after losing at home to Swansea last time out,” declared McDermott. “The Madejski is a difficult place to come to and we want to make sure that continues.
“Our home record overall since I have been in charge has been excellent. I think we’ve only lost three times in the league and everyone knows that if you win your home games it gives you a fighting chance.
“But we’re not complacent enough to under-estimate Doncaster. They’re a very good side and we’re going to have to be at our very best.”
Reading’s firepower came under the spotlight last week after they followed up the Swansea defeat by firing blanks again in a 1-0 loss at Bristol City.
Yet McDermott’s men answered their critics in style at the weekend by thrashing Burnley 4-0 in their own back yard.
“There’s been a lot of talk about the number of goals but we’re always working on the way we play,” explained McDermott. “We are tweaking the way we play, trying to get goals, and we did that on Saturday.
“We had a conversation about stepping up to the mark, and our players did that. We’ve lost players recently but we keep bringing them through from the Academy, working with them and Reading is a good place to be.
“We work hard, try to do the right thing and when you do that you get your rewards.”
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
