Source: PA
McDermott keeps it in perspective
Brian McDermott was upbeat after the 3-2 home defeat to Sheffield United, using the reception afforded to Chris Armstrong, who recently quit football due to Multiple Sclerosis, to keep perspective.
The Royals' automatic promotion hopes ended after they squandered a two-goal lead, but their place in the play-offs is all but secured.
McDermott said: "I honestly believed before the game that we could have made second spot, but that's not going to happen now. At 2-0 we didn't get the details right and didn't do the basics. We didn't win our headers, let balls bounce and didn't do lots of stuff.
"But I have to take the positives. We look set for the play-offs and 12 games ago, I didn't think we could get here. It's important to get third or fourth place and get the play-off home game second, but 12 games ago we would have taken sixth. I'll take whatever comes up.
"On a scale of deflation from one to 10, the players are now on 9.75, but we have done that to teams ourselves this season.
"But it's only football and the reception for Chris Armstrong before the game puts it all in perspective."
