McDermott wary of Bluebirds spirit

Sportsdesk • Published 13 May 2011 11:30 0 Comments

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READING boss Brian McDermott dismissed rumours of disharmony in the Cardiff City camp ahead of tonight's Championship play-off clash at Madejski Stadium (7.45pm ko, live Sky Sports).

Reports suggest a number of Bluebirds players were spotted drinking in city centre bars before their recent 3-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough.

But former Cardiff player McDermott is refusing to be sidetracked by the allegations and says he expects Dave Jones' men to be at their best for the mouthwatering semi-final first leg.

Royals' manager declared: "I heard about that, but Cardiff will be absolutely spot on tomorrow night, mark my words.

"There are four play-off teams who all think they have a great chance of getting to Wembley and they are one of them To get through you have to play well, so we will see what happens.

"We know we can score against any team, so the most important thing is we perform on the night. The four teams left in it are too close to call. The bookies have made Swansea favourites and we're just outside so there's not much in it.

"This is over two games so it's a different format. You have to perform in the first leg and try and get the right result. I'm not looking beyond that at the moment."

In an ironic twist, if McDermott can pull it off and lead Reading back into the Premier League, he would owe a great debt to former Bluebirds manager Frank Burrows.

McDermott spent one season at Cardiff under Burrows in the late 1980s when he was part of a double-winning side.

"I won promotion with Cardiff and the Welsh Cup so I suppose that makes me a double winner," quipped McDermott, who this week was named the Championship Manager of the Month for April. "There aren't many of us around I tell you, I should be a Welsh legend really.

"I had a really great time at Cardiff. It's a great city and I worked under the manager Frank Burrows who taught me an incredible amount.

"He showed me what was required to win games when you are playing week-in-week-out. He was a real influence with me.

"I used to play out wide and in certain games I would try and do my thing. He showed me it wasn't like that - you play for the team and I'm very much in that mould now.

"Just look at our wingers Jimmy Kebe and Jobi McAnuff who are great team players."

Meanwhile, Reading will not risk Kebe in the Championship play-offs unless he is fully fit.

The club are reluctant to recall the influential winger, left, until they are fully satisfied he has recovered from a thigh strain.

Kebe, 27, was forced to miss the last four games of the season and it appears he remains a major doubt for the play-off clash against Cardiff City.

Royals hoped he would be in contention to face Derby County last Saturday, but the Mali international suffered a setback a few days before the 2-1 victory.

Manager Brian McDermott explained: "We're working on him day by day but we don't really want to take a chance with a thigh injury.

"It's not like a kick which you can play with. He's strained it and if he does it again it could put him back which is the last thing we want.

"He trained with the squad last week but he had to pull up, so if he's not right for the first leg we'll have to try and get him right for the second leg on Tuesday."

However, there was better news concerning midfield enforcer Mikele Leigertwood who suffered a knock on his ankle in the win against the Rams.

The on-loan QPR star is making a rapid recovery and should be ready to face the Bluebirds.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 12 May 11

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