McDermott resolute after Plymouth massacre

Anthony Smith • Published 29 Dec 2009 09:00 2 Comments

See also:

CARETAKER boss Brian McDermott claimed Reading's 4-1 battering at Plymouth Argyle has made him even more determined to land the full-time manager's role.

Royals slumped to their worst display of the season on Monday and were humiliated by the Pilgrims in a relegation six-pointer at Home Park.

The embarrassing defeat saw McDermott's side slip to 20th position in the Championship table, just two points above the relegation zone ahead of a tough run of games including Liverpool in the FA Cup this weekend followed by Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in the league.

And while Royals chairman Sir John Madejski has given McDermott time to prove himself, he will not tolerate many more setbacks like Plymouth.

The likes of Glenn Hoddle, Darren Ferguson and former boss Steve Coppell are among those seen as possible long-term successors to Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked two weeks ago.

But 48-year-old McDermott insists his desire to land the job on permanent basis remains undiluted.

When asked if he still wanted the job, the club's former chief scout declared: "Yeah, absolutely, perhaps even more.

"Obviously a result like that hasn't helped the situation as far as I'm concerned but I'm very, very positive and very up for it.

"I've got no doubt I have the support of players. I know they're playing for me. But what happened at Plymouth can't happen again this season."

Royals, with Simon Church back in the side following a one-game ban, fell behind to Alan Judge's 13th minute penalty following a blatant trip by under-par skipper Ivar Ingimarsson.

The poor Home Park pitch wasn't helping Royals' cause, but nor was their shocking defending as Kari Arnason netted Argyle's second with a free-header from six yards in the 59th minute.

Gylfi Sigurdsson grabbed Royals' a lifeline just two minutes later with a thumping header for his seventh of the season, but it took Pilgrims a matter of seconds to restore their two-goal advantage when Judge headed home.

And to compound the visitors' misery, Plymouth substitute Ashley Barnes slotted his side's fourth in the 84th minute.

Reading were roundly booed off the pitch by the 700-or-so travelling fans and McDermott struggled to find a positive spin to a disastrous afternoon.

"We were out-fought and that's massively disappointing," he admitted. "It's the worse thing that can happen to you when you are playing a football match.

"You can be beaten by a better side but when you get out-fought it's worse.

"Plymouth wanted it more than us. We gave bad goals away at the wrong times like giving a penalty away with 15 minutes gone.

"Then we get ourselves back at 2-1 and we give another goal away. I couldn't see that one coming after the previous couple of games. That's what galls you more than anything."

Reading have taken two points from the three games McDermott has been in charge, a pair of 1-1 draws at Bristol City and at home to Swansea City.

"The first two games were positive but Plymouth was a really bad day at the office and a bad day for the club," added McDermott.

"We have to take that on the chin and accept any criticism that comes our way after a performance like that. But we have to move on."

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

******
Dec 29, 13:16
Report comment

This comment has been removed by a moderator
Sir Dodger Royal
Unregistered User
Dec 29, 14:17
Report comment

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=219389521533

Looks like the native's are getting restless re Madejski's negative attitude to th Club and taking SDRs advice. A demo against the Board is required.

Real facts. Time for Action.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Sir Dodger Royal
Unregistered User
Dec 29, 14:17
Report comment

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=219389521533

Looks like the native's are getting restless re Madejski's negative attitude to th Club and taking SDRs advice. A demo against the Board is required.

Real facts. Time for Action.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle