Royals boss baffled by team's stunning form
Sportsdesk • Published 19 Apr 2011 09:30
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Heat of the battle. Reading's Mathieu Manset hits the deck during his side's 3-1 win against Leicester on Saturday. Pic: Nitu Mistry.
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Reading 3 - 1 Leicester City
BRIAN McDermott admits he cannot explain Reading's incredible run of form after they beat Leicester City 3-1 to notch their eighth successive Championship win.
McDermott's men have emerged from the mid-table pack as serious automatic promotion contenders. They are unbeaten in 12 league games and their incredible eight-match winning streak leaves them only three points adrift of second-placed Cardiff City with four games to go.
At the very least Royals look certain to make the play-offs, an achievement which itself appeared beyond them just a matter of weeks ago.
And McDermott declared: "I can't put my finger on the reasons for our run of success. It's a little bit of everything.
"I spoke to the players before the game about the great environment here which they have been creating for many months.
"I wouldn't want to be in any other dressing room in the Championship, and I am sure the players feel the same."
Reading relied on a stunning solo display from Jimmy Kebe to see off an attacking Foxes side at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
The Mali winger scored one and set up another after tormenting the visitors' defence all afternoon in a man-of-the-match performance.
Kebe bundled home Shane Long's cross from short range to give Royals a 19th minute lead. Jobi McAnuff added a second less than two minutes later then Kebe turned provider when he raced 90 yards before setting up substitute Noel Hunt's 68th minute goal.
Foxes, who wasted a string of earlier chances, pulled one back though a long-range Andy King strike in the 79th minute but it was nothing more than a consolation.
And McDermott hailed match-winner Kebe, saying: "Jimmy was sensational. Jimmy is a guy I have known for a long time and he is a terrific player along with so many others. I could reel off our entire squad, they have given absolutely everything to our club and our fans.
"The fans are enjoying this season, we are enjoying it too but we want them to enjoy it even more."
However, McDermott acknowledged his side had been in a tough battle against Sven Goran Eriksson's play-off chasing Leicester.
"We had to dig in," he declared. "We played like the away team. Leicester showed their quality but we hit them on the break.
"In three games against Nottingham Forest, Scunthorpe and Leicester we've tweaked the game plan because you have to do that.
"This time we had six or seven really good opportunities and we came away with three.
"Noel's goal came at the right time and even at 3-1 against a side with such quality it will always be a concern, so I was happy to hear the final whistle and it's a big win."
Reading (4-4-2): McCarthy - Griffin, Mills (c), Khizanishvili, Harte - Kebe (Robson-Kanu 83), Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff - Manset (Hunt 54), Long. Subs not used: Federici, Pearce, Tabb, Antonio, Church.
Leicester (4-3-3): Weale - Naughton, Bamba (Vitor 56), Bruma, Van Aanholt - Wellens, Oakley (c), King - Vassell (Gallagher 67), Yakubu, Kamara (Howard 71). Subs not used: Ricardo, Berner, Abe, Dyer. Yellow cards: Oakley (foul 17).
Attendance: 19,199 (Leicester 1,963).
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancs).
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