Reading FC

Reading FC manager Brian McDermott labelled Peter Whittingham's second-minute wonder-goal as a 'fluke' and felt his side should have had at least one penalty
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McDermott: Reading FC didn't deserve defeat to Cardiff City

By Jonny Fordham
November 20, 2011

Brian McDermott was defiant that Reading 'never deserved to lose' 2-1 to Cardiff City.

The disappointed Royals boss labelled Peter Whittingham's second-minute wonder-goal as a 'fluke' and felt his side should have had at least one penalty.

Jimmy Kebe also saw a goal disallowed, then Mark Hudson doubled the Bluebirds lead in the 70th minute before Kebe grabbed a consolation seven minutes later.

And McDermott said: "I'm really, really disappointed that we didn't get at least a point because we didn't deserve to lose, there's no doubt about that.

"I felt anything that could have gone against us did go against us. I'm disappointed, but we will have to move on quickly.

"I've seen their first goal back, Whittingham has got a great left foot, but I don't believe he meant it. It's a kind of block, he's put his foot through it and it's ended up in the top corner when it could have gone anywhere.

"There were then three penalty appeals, you would expect to get at least one of them, I'm flabbergasted we didn't get any.

"There were two handballs and when Leigertwood was held back in the box, I've seen them all again.

"We have to take referees out of the equation, we had a little bit of this last season, we have to do what we've got to do and get the goals we need.

"We had opportunities ourselves, Jem Karacan had a chance, Noel Hunt had a chance, we created opportunities so credit to the players for keeping going.

"I couldn't even say Cardiff had two opportunities, they scored a fluke goal, the second is from a set play when we gave him too much space and switched off from a runner.

"But I can't really remember them hurting us, what I can remember is us playing a lot of the game in the final third.

"At half time we weren't looking just to draw, we were looking to win.

"Malky Mackay will be delighted to come here and get the three points. He's got a team that is resilient and has experience so good luck to them, but we felt today we deserved something from this game.

"Cardiff have got good people, players who are honest and know this League, they're right up there at the moment."

Follow Royals reporter Jonny Fordham on Twitter here

Despite their third home defeat of the season, Royals still remain in 14th place.

However, they have fallen further behind the chasing play-off pack and are six points away from the top six.

"There's 87 points to play for," McDermott added.

"You need a short memory when you lose and we'll train again on Monday and look ahead to Ipswich (at Portman Road on Saturday).

"There were a lot of plusses, we showed desire, determination, and were unfortunate, to say the least, not to win. Sometimes in football it's not your day, this was one of them. It's difficult to take but we move on quickly.

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Bushes Benign, "I bet you went man and boy as well eh?" A horribly ageist attitude. "Get with the new century you tube".

Fancirca1963, Reading
22/11/2011 at 15:01

A horribly sexist attitude fancirca1945. Get with the new century grandad.

topcat - still attempting the better fan route, and you can't even recognise it.

Bushes Bernal
22/11/2011 at 14:32

Oh good yet another comments thread desends into a willy waving contest.

Robsy , Reading
22/11/2011 at 14:03

If I had to nominate who was the most knowledgeable supporter of The Mighty Royals and who talked the most sense between BB & TC, i'd place BB in 2nd position. As for the point about jumpers, yes of course we have all had to use whatever resources were/are available now and then. The reason BB is a little confused here is because he wears blouses and/or tank-tops.

Fancirca1963, Reading
22/11/2011 at 13:46

Bushes, I have never said that I.m a better fan than you, & I certainly dont post a " desperate" argument, my views are based on the past 40 years or so of waching RFC, Yes, still do go, as a Southbanker of the 70s, to the East stand now, from being part of the Cherrys wine bar/Jolly porter era, to the hotel bar now. Have we all not played football with jumpers as goalposts ?, or are you an xbox player ?.

topcat, torquay
22/11/2011 at 13:25

Desperate topcat, going down the 'I'm a better fan than you' route is a hopeless argument. I bet you went man and boy as well eh? Jumpers for goalposts.

Any more football cliches?

Bushes Bernal
22/11/2011 at 12:51

Oh dear Bushes, when you cant defend youself, you attack, the opposite of RFC in fact. You dont answer questions because you have no credible answers, as for putting the impatient in their place, after over 40 years following the team,I dont feel I.m impatient, I feel I am entitled to my view/opinions. I will be at Blackpool, will you ?. I very much doubt it.

topcat, torquay
22/11/2011 at 12:07

Wayhey! another attack on the chairman by HARB.

He is as predicatble as death and taxes.

Bushes Bernal
22/11/2011 at 11:36

topcat, i'm not here to answer your questions. I'm here to put the impatient in their place. Like fancirca1963, an emotionally immature man (I think).

Bushes Bernal
22/11/2011 at 11:34

HARB - welcome to Reading FC and the position where we stand. This has always been the case at Reading, because we're not a big club like those around us, historically speaking. I thought Mr Madjeski's goal (if you excuse the pun!) was to get Reading into the Premiership. He's done that and now clearly wants to move on as he seems frightened of the costs of doing so. Does anyone know a rich Arab Sheikh who wants to put Reading FC at the top of the Premiership? Then shall we rename the stadium - 'The Rich Arab Sheikh Stadium'?? Reading FC - just win the next game and everyone will smile.......

Southbank Dave
22/11/2011 at 10:38

Reading-based Cardiff fan here, I come in peace, so hope you don't abuse me like you seem to abuse yourselves.

I didn't go to the game on saturday, so don't have my own view on who did what, who deserved what etc, but it seems to me that the photo of Brian McDermott in this article seems to show his permanent expression. I can't remember any manager being as bad as him for moaning about his side's luck after a bad result. He does it every time. Even Fergie has the ability to give an opposition side credit (these days).

As for Whittingham's goal, may have been speculative, but certainly wasn't a fluke. Whittingham doesn't do flukes, plenty of Whittingham goals on youtube for McD to label as 'flukes'

Best of luck for the rest of the season, see you in the playoffs again (don't rule it out just yet, this is always a tight division)

Kenny Lynchmob
22/11/2011 at 10:23

Yes we deserved better from the game at least a draw - our best chance fell to Karacan had that been Le Fondre or Hunt I guess the outcome may have been different.

Typical Championship very little difference between many of the teams - 2 wins for example and we are challenging for the play offs - a couple of draws and no real movement - a couple of losses and we drop a couple of places.

Patience is a virtue found seldom in women and absolutely definately never in football fans! The fact is the club is run on a tight budget a fact that is unlikely to change in the near future - we are a good championship club with average attendance and a young squad that I believe will get better.

Howard & Kebe may go in January and there may be replacements - I think defensively we are sound but need a plan b that doesn't involve wingers - a midfielder with a bit of guile perhaps -- Willie McKay FC (Doncaster) have Brian Stock on the bench while they play prats like Diouff we should take advantage? There are others out there.

C'mon URZZZ!

Robsy , Reading
22/11/2011 at 10:19

HARB,Mate, The club's been "in transition" ever since Madejski realised just how deep the water was in the Premiership.

When he first arrived, JM had fire in his belly, and pertinently, cash he was prepared to speculate. Everything that was done was with a view to making RFC a Premiership club, and he suceeded.

I think he, and all of us got a wake up call when we realised that the Premiership is a busted flush, in that virtually all the Sky mega millions get gobbled up in paying footballers frankly obscene wages. The bloke didn't get a return on the money he fronted. Add in a recession, and he finds himself worth less than he once was. No buyers came in to relieve him of the burden, so he made a re assement of targets. Back then, his number one consideration was RFC's position in the league. Nowadays, the balance sheet is number one. If the club can't make a profit, it should at least be self sufficient, requiring no monetary input from him. In all honesty, I would do the same if it were my money.

This course of action has a large element of risk. Many other clubs do not operate in this way. In this very competitive football industry, money still talks, and whilst this remains, I sincerely believe that it will inevitably end up with RFC sliding back to the nether reaches of League 1.

It's a shame, but that's football these days.

ray northstander
22/11/2011 at 09:20

'Team in transition' - that's what we are going to hear every single season whilst Madejski clings on at the club and the likes of Bushes continue to applaud him. Every time we get half way towards a decent team the manager will be forced to sell off some of the most talented players to conform with the chairman's business plan.

To make matters worse, despite knowing only too well that they will be selling the stars, the club refuse to let the manager sign replacements until those stars have gone. We then spend the first half of the season waiting for the bargain basement signings to gel in the team and the second half of the season trying to play catch up with the teams that have chairmen prepared to invest and construct a strong team over the summer.

HARB
21/11/2011 at 20:47

We did not make anything of the chances we got. We don't have a forward who can make a goal out of half chances. And all the good work of the central defence was squandered by Kebe's recklessness and bad marking by the midfielders. Pearce gets better every game, and was not even beaten for pace when I feared the worst.