New Reading boss Brian McDermott reserved special praise for matchwinner Shane Long after the 1-0 win over Barnsley.
Long netted his first league goal of the season to give McDermott a maiden league victory and the new manager was delighted.
He said: "Shane was excellent, really athletic and he won his headers.
"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."
Source: PA