Pompey win crowns perfect week for McDermott
Anthony Smith • Published 5 Apr 2011 09:30
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ROYALS manager Brian McDermott crowned a perfect week by watching his side beat 10-man Portmsouth to move into the Championship play-off positions for the first time this season.
McDermott signed a new contract last Wednesday before a Shane Long brace saw off a wasteful Pompey in a 2-0 victory at Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
There was good news for Reading even before kick-off when Nottingham Forest's 4-1 defeat at Leeds United opened the door for sixth place.
And McDermott's men capitalised in front of their second biggest home crowd this season to stretch their unbeaten league run to eight matches.
Royals boss beamed: "We knew Leeds had beaten Forest so a win would take us in the top six. That was the goal and we did it. This was a big result for us. We were playing against a good Pompey side who had won seven of their last nine, so it was a good day for us and we enjoyed it."
Reading rode their luck early on and were only level due to some dreadful finishing from ex-striker Dave Kitson.
The flame-haired hitman received a warm reception from the home fans he served for more than five years, but the prospect of facing his old club appeared to get to him.
Kitson wasted three-gilt edged chances to put Portsmouth ahead when he missed the target with a free back-post header then failed to beat Alex McCarthy with only Royals' keeper to beat.
He also failed to convert an inviting cross from another former Reading player, Greg Halford, with the goal at his mercy, sparking an ironic chorus of 'Kitson is a Royal,' from the home faithful.
And Pompey were duly punished by red-hot striker Long, who was merely a bit-part player when Kitson was leading the Royals line during the glory Premier League years under Steve Coppell.
In fairness, there was a hint of luck about Long's 30th minute opener as his 25-yard shot flew straight through the grasp of ex-Reading keeper Jamie Ashdown.
But Pompey's afternoon got worse six minutes later when Long was hauled down from behind by Ricardo Rocha as he raced onto a raking pass from Brian Howard. Referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot, even though the foul appeared to take place outside the area, before showing Rocha a straight red.
Long dusted himself down to beat Ashdown from the spot for his 22nd goal of the season.
The visitors, to their credit, still caused Reading problems with McCarthy making an excellent save to deny skipper Liam Lawrence in the second-half. But Royals also had two goals from Howard and substitute Simon Church disallowed on a pivotal afternoon.
McDermott added: "The first goal was really, really important. We got it, then scored the penalty and they had a man sent off. We could have controlled the game better in the second-half, especially against 10 men, but they are a dangerous side, as their recent record will suggest."
Reading (4-4-1-1): McCarthy - Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson (c), Khizanishvili, Harte - Kebe, Karacan, Tabb, McAnuff (Robson-Kanu 61) - Howard (Church 74) - Long. Subs not used: Andersen, Griffin, Pearce, Antonio, Manset. Yellow cards: McAnuff (dissent 40).
Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Ashdown - De Laet, Halford, Rocha, Hreidarsson - Cotterill (Mokoena 43), Hogg, Mullins (Ward 78), Lawrence (c), NUgent (Webber 85) - Kitson. Subs not used: Flahavan, Dickinson, Ciftci, Kanu. Yellow cards: De Laet 8 (foul), Mullins 27 (foul), Mokoena 70 (foul). Red cards: Rocha 36.
Attendance: 21,896 (4,027 away).
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leics).
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