McDermott hails success of gameplan

READING boss Brian McDermott was thrilled his gameplan came off to spectacular effect at Turf Moor – but insisted people should write Burnley off at their peril.

McDermott changed his side’s system to 4-2-3-1 to nullify the Clarets, and while the final result flattered the Royals, the visitors deserved to win the game.

McDermott piloted Reading to a 1-0 win over the Clarets at the Madejski Stadium in the FA Cup in January - helping him convince the chairman to give him the job on a full-time basis, and he has proved a shrewd appointment.

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And he said: “I’m absolutely delighted. To come here and win at Burnley, who are unbeaten at home this season, is fantastic.

“I thought our shape was good and I thought we deserved to win the game.”

They had the perfect start when Shane Long was upended by Leon Cort and picked himself up to score from the spot after seven minutes, and McDermott said: “It was a great start, it was a definite penalty – we didn’t know if he (Cort) was going to be sent off, with Shane in on goal, but obviously not.

“Then we got to two with chances to make it three, and couldn’t quite do it. But the third killed the game off.”

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Referee Nigel Miller had an erratic, to be generous, performance, and Burnley might have have a spot-kick or two of their own, but McDermott played down any claims: “It’s hard to say anything until I’ve looked at them again.

“All I know is I was pleased with how we performed, and we’ve kept a clean sheet, which is good because Burnley will be there or thereabouts.

“You can see that – they’ve got quality players.

“I’m pleased how we came off the back of two defeats. It was important that we bounced back and we certainly did that.”