Roberts silences City boo-boys with debut goal
Sportsdesk • Published 30 Jan 2012 18:00
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BRIAN McDermott hailed new signing Jason Roberts after the Reading striker broke Bristol City hearts.
The 34-year-old topped off an impressive debut by winning and converting a penalty less than 48 hours after joining from Blackburn Rovers.
The former Bristol Rovers ace received a torrent of abuse from City fans at Madejski Stadium. But he rammed those taunts back down their throats to secure a victory that sent Royals up to fourth in the Championship table.
Roberts was the first to admit it was not the best penalty he had ever taken as he bundled the ball home in the 58th minute after former England keeper David James had saved his initial effort.
It also left City with a mountain to climb as their skipper Louis Carey was sent off for hauling Roberts down in the box.
And boss McDermott praised Roberts for his stand-out contribution. "I thought he really added something on the day.
"The crowd took to him, it was a really good debut for him. He won the first penalty and played a one-two off David James. He still had to finish it, he was there to score."
McDermott was more relieved that anyone to put the club's off-field developments to one side following Anton Zingarevich's proposed multi-million buyout.
Yet it was Zingarevich's money that helped bring Roberts to Reading last week, along with Tomasz Cywka from Derby County on a free.
Cywka, 23, also impressed after coming off the bench late on to win Reading's second penalty of the day, only for James to save Jobi McAnuff's effort.
Thankfully, it made little difference to the result, even though Albert Adomah saw his effort hit the crossbar for 10-man City midway through the second half.
McDermott added: "I was delighted because it was a tough game and it's a very valuable three points. A lot has gone on this week so it was an important result. That's eight wins in 11 games for us now which isn't too bad."
Reading had, in fact, lost three of their previous four games in all competitions including a 1-0 home loss to Hull City last time out and an FA Cup defeat by League One Stevenage, both of which were at home.
Roberts, without a competitive game since mid-December, was a livewire from the first whistle and at the heart of Reading' best moves.
He created chances for McAnuff and Michail Antonio then saw his own shot blocked after James had denied Antonio.
Royals continued to carve out the best opportunities and Noel Hunt was inches away from converting an Antonio cross.
Adomah threaten for City with an overhead kick that Adam Federici saved, but the home side finished the first period on top, with Kaspars Gorkss going close from 25 yards.
A Chris Wood header tested Federici after the break but Royals finally broke the deadlock when Carey brought down Roberts as he shaped to shoot.
James guessed the right way, but Roberts scrambled the rebound over the line via the inside of a post.
City refused to lie down, with Adomah rattling the bar, but Reading still had the luxury of missing a late penalty when James denied McAnuff.
Royals face a trip to Doncaster Rovers this Saturday (3pm ko).
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