McDermott admits: 'We're not good enough'

Sportsdesk • Published 13 Sep 2011 09:30 2 Comments

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Reading 0 - 2 Watford

BRIAN McDermott sympathised with Reading fans for ruining their weekend after a woeful 2-0 home defeat by Watford.

Royals were humbled by Hornets duo Mark Yeates and John Eustace who scored in each half to secure a first Championship win for Sean Dyche's side, and plunge McDermott's men into the bottom three.

It was Reading's fifth straight defeat in all competitions and fourth in the league, leaving them one place off the foot of the table.

And angry Royals' supporters aired their frustrations at the final whistle as jeers rang around the Madejski Stadium.

McDermott said: "We've had plenty of good times in the 20 months-or-so I've been manager. We haven't lost too many games at Madejski Stadium and the fans have had some really good days and nights. This was a bad day.

"The result was not what we wanted. The performance was not what we expected or needed. We have ruined our fans' weekend and we've ruined our own. We have to put it right quickly."

Reading are yet to win at home this season and were second best from start to finish on Saturday.

They failed to muster a single shot on target as debut-boy Adam Le Fondre was starved of service and faced a mean Hornets defence.

McDermott conceded: "We are not good enough at the moment. We've got players who are not at the top of their games and their confidence levels are down. I can see some fear out on the pitch, the fans can see it too.

"We've always played without fear and we have to get back to doing that.

"We've always looked like a difficult team to beat, a team who don't look like conceding too many goals. But at the moment we don't look like a team.

"It's not a good recipe, I know that. We will be doing everything we can to address that this week."

It is believed Reading chairman Sir John Madejski is set to meet McDermott this week to discuss the team's current plight.

But it appears McDermott will refrain from making rash decisions on the back of the Watford defeat.

All three of Reading's summer signings - Kaspars Gorkss, Joseph Mills and Le Fondre - started on Saturday with Ian Harte left out and Noel Hunt nursing a back injury.

But McDermott insisted: "I can't keep making change after change, I've got to find a formula that works.

"We need 11 players who go out there and take it on, in an attempt to claim the shirt and keep it."

But he also added: "Adam Le Fondre showed some nice touches. He knows where the goal is but I felt sorry for him because we didn't give him good enough service.

"Kaspars Gorkss is a warrior, he worked really hard and kept going for the whole 90 minutes. Millsy started the game brightly but it was difficult for him because we weren't playing well enough."

Reading's next fixture is another basement battle against rock-bottom Doncaster Rover at Madejski Stadium this Saturday (3pm ko).

McDermott stated: "Six games in, we have to move on and make it right very quickly. We're not right at the moment, but come Doncaster we will be.

"This is a test and we need to stand up and be counted now."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 13 Sep 11

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Reading Hornet
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Sep 13, 14:29
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That's ok - I know a few Reading based Hornets who enjoyed it. I've certainly been rubbing it in to all the Royals fans I know!

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Vic Road
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Sep 13, 16:29
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Never underestimate the opposition it's that simple ...

If anyone did their homework they'd ve noticed that Watford are not quite as crap as many assumed they were ... on merit they should be near the play-offs, quite simply they have dominated large parts of most games this season only to be undone by inept officials and inspired goalkeeping and just bad luck. Derby were totally outclassed except for great goalkeeping, the woodwork and a speculative shot from Davies for their winner (their only serious attempt). Two penalties against Coventry that shocked even their own fans, ignored. Meanwhile six games in, even without Danny Graham, stats show Watford to have had more shots on target than anyone else.

Ifs and buts but realistically that's 5 deserved points dropped, only against West Ham have we been poor and even then that was a fairly close affair up until their 2nd. Nothing lucky about draws against Burnley and Birmingham or indeed this win against yourselves, Sean Dyche has bought well in the summer, add the academy and we have immense depth compared to previously. With that elusive first win behind us and a little bit of luck I think Watford could be challenging come May, if we had an experienced manager I would almost expect it.

My point is, don't beat yourselves up about this result, you are not one of the worst 3 by a long way.

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