Source: Team_Talk
McDermott relieved by overdue win
Shane Long grabbed his first league goal since April as Reading carried their FA Cup form into the Championship with a vital win at the Madejski Stadium.[LNB]Former chief scout McDermott, who was confirmed in the job full-time on Wednesday, said: "I just wanted to get it done. It is important to the players, to the supporters and to the staff.[LNB]"We needed to bring stability to the situation.[LNB]"Today is just what we needed. We showed courage and spirit, although 1-0 is always a bit hairy towards the end of the game.[LNB]"In the past things have happened when were leading 1-0, but the important thing about this result is that we got all three points."[LNB]McDermott reserved special praise for matchwinner Long.[LNB]"Shane was excellent, really athletic and he won his headers," he said.[LNB]"There are signs of a growing partnership between him and Simon Church, whose movement was really good, but we have five or six strikers fighting for a place in the team."[LNB]McDermott also had praise for full-back Andy Griffin, the man he brought in on loan from Stoke.[LNB]"He is such a good pro, and he is a great guy to have around the club. I have been really pleased with him," he said.[LNB]Barnsley boss Mark Robins has taken his side from the foot of the Championship to mid-table since taking over from Simon Davey but will be concerned that this was his side's fourth defeat in five matches.[LNB]"It was poor from start to finish," he said.[LNB]"We have not defended well enough and Reading's goal was something you see in the playground.[LNB]"The ball's got through Luke Steele's fingers, we then had another chance to close it down but didn't and it was a catalogue of errors.[LNB]"This was a really, really poor performance. Everything was poor about our play. This has got to be a one-off.[LNB]"Credit to Reading, they worked hard, but we didn't do any of the things we spoke of before the game.[LNB]"What's changed since our good run is that we were working hard, but we have not for 90 minutes today and that's disappointing."[LNB]Reading were on top from start to finish with Jobi McAnuff close to adding a second with a shot that hit the upright.[LNB]Adam Hammill saw his first-half effort for Barnsley get past Reading keeper Adam Federici, but full-back Ryan Bertrand was in the right place to clear the ball away from the line.[LNB]"Now we have to get out of the bottom three," added McDermott, "but we face another tough game next week with a visit to Doncaster."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
