Reading FC

Reading FC manager Brian McDermott is going into the Manchester City game looking for a win
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McDermott goes to Manchester City looking for the win

By Jonny Fordham
December 22, 2012

Brian McDermott will stick to his "no fear" mantra when Reading travel to Champions Manchester City today (3pm kick-off).

Second-placed City have lost just once at the Etihad Stadium all season and rock-bottom Royals have won just a single game and none away from home.

Defeated in their last six matches, McDermott would be forgiven for parking the bus when his side play Roberto Mancini's men, but the Reading manager has vowed to go to the blue side of Manchester looking for victory.

"I have to say that three years ago I made a decision that I would be fearless in the way I try and conduct myself in this management lark - and I have stuck to that," said McDermott.

"I haven't gone into games with fear. I was out with a friend of mine when I got the job and we had a conversation and I said I'm going to enjoy every single minute of this.

"I'm going to have no fear in each and every game. I'm going to try and win games when it's a draw and I've stuck to that.”

“History suggests it has been the right way for me and the right way for Reading, if you look at the record over the last three years, apart from the last 17 games.

"It suggests that it's been the right philosophy for me and the club because we've been successful.”

McDermott is under no illusion that getting a result against a side who have spent hundreds of millions and boast Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli in their armoury will be easy.

“Anything's possible in football," said McDermott whose side conceded four against Arsenal in an embarrassing 5-2 defeat on Monday night.

"We know what we're coming up against, we know what a fantastic side they've put together there – we're going to play the champions. "I'm just looking forward to the occasion, I'm looking forward to the opportunity, and we'll see what the result is.

“We need to get every percent out of each member of staff and each player here - We have done that over a long period of time and that's what we need now.”

City are the second most lethal side in the league with 33 goals in games - scoring an average of 2.33 goals every 90 minutes at home in comparison to Reading's leaky back four conceding an average of 1.88 a game away from Madejski Stadium.

Royals' net has been breached 36 times, the worst in the league, and TV pundit and England coach Gary Neville laid into their leaky rearguard ahead of, during and after Monday's massacre by the Gunners.

“I'll have a look at what Gary Neville has said about us," joked McDermott.

“We haven't had a settled back four or a settled team, which we have done for the past two years, but it's just a case of trying to find a way really.

"When you get a settled back four and a settled team you tend to get results, but if not you have to make changes to try and find a way and I'll be doing that this weekend.”

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1 Poor game and Shorey benched Poor season and McAnuff andLeigertwood still picked WHY..

A. XYZ
22/12/2012 at 14:48

What is McD smoking ?

Revs1031, Minnesota
22/12/2012 at 13:56

Good news for my dream team points!!!! Aguero Tevez Toure Hat Tricks!!

smithy 85, reading
22/12/2012 at 13:25

He 'joked' he would look at Gary Neville's comments!! He bloomin should he was spot on. Play the same tactics as we did against Arsenal and City will be in double figures.

ade-kent-royal, kent
22/12/2012 at 12:05

There is no logic in BMD's comment. So we won more than we lost by going for the win, yes Brian but we were not in the Premier, please realise quickly that these teams are far superior to those in the Championship. Also, in business if you have good growth over the years you are always looking to grow the business to maintain and improve your position in the market place, not rest on your laurels and boast about your previous good years.

Please stop quoting every word you utter with reference to the last three years. We are not better off now, because RFC have failed to grab the opportunity to progress in the Prem by rank bad management, which has totally wasted the effort of the last three years! It is also peeing off the fans who can see more clearly than anyone at RFC that a golden opportunity to IMPROVE on "the last three years" line we keep being spun.

Royals1871
22/12/2012 at 11:53

Blooey Danny I get the impression your pi***d off! Brilliant Brian so well go with plan A and if that don't Work well try errrr..... plan A!! There is a bit More to this management lark than just blindly playing one way!

ade-kent-royal, kent
22/12/2012 at 11:24

Don't worry danny. It's a bit like Brian, repeating the same stuff over and over again....

ray northstander
22/12/2012 at 11:21

Sorry for the repeat posts, Internet playing up.

Danny0367, Chorley, Lancashire
22/12/2012 at 11:09

going for the win.perhaps Mcd has a crystal ball.probably the only b**lls he has got.stand up brian and speak your own mind and not the scripted rubbish from AZ and JM.

right said fred
22/12/2012 at 11:08

Now I'm really getting hacked off. 3 years ago this, 3 years ago that. I'm getting so pi**ed off with him saying that its making me fuming. He's using that too often now to answer questions about current results.