Football

McDermott slams Reading FC's "embarrassing" display in extraordinary 7-5 defeat

By Alan Manicom
October 31, 2012

Brian McDermott slammed Reading’s ‘embarrassing’ display as they threw away a four-goal lead at home to Arsenal.

Royals’ boss saw his side go 4-0 up inside 40 minutes in last night’s crazy Capital One Cup clash – thanks to Jason Roberts, a Laurent Koscielny own goal, Mikele Leigertwood and Noel Hunt.

But after seeing his men slip to a 7-5 defeat, he said: “It was kamikaze football in the second half and in extra time. It’s embarrassing for all of us and we have to move on very quickly.”

McDermott said the turning point was the goal Theo Walcott scored on the stroke of half-time to reduce Reading’s lead to 4-1.

Royals failed to match their first-half performance and fell victim to a remarkable comeback by the Gunners, who forced extra-time thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Koscielny and a shot from Walcott that crossed the line before being cleared by Nicky Shorey, only for Carl Jenkinson to make sure.

Marouane Chamakh put Arsenal 5-4 ahead in extra-time and although Reading managed to get it back to 5-5, courtesy of a header by substitute Pavel Pogrebnyak, late goals by Walcott and Chamakh booked Arsenal’s place in the quarter-finals.

A drained McDermott said: “I wasn’t happy at half time and it was a very strange feeling.

“It’s a ridiculous thing to say when you’re 4-1 up, but I wasn’t comfortable.

“Their goal gave them the impetus they didn’t need and it was the turning point. We needed a fifth goal.

“We’ve been in the lead for many games here and been comfortable but I wasn’t tonight. It was the worst defeat of my career, when you consider who we were playing and going out and playing as well as we did.

“It’s happened to them, as Newcastle came back from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 against Arsenal.”

McDermott was also unhappy with the extra minute of stoppage time allowed by the referee, which led to Arsenal making it 4-4 and forcing extra-time.

He said: “You can’t get the time as wrong as that, but the ref did.”

Royals’ boss praised his side, though, for their start, which saw some outstanding football played.

“I thought we were extraordinary the first 35 minutes – really, really good. So to see what we saw in the next 45 minutes and extra time was bizarre to say the least.

“We have to take a lot of positives from the first 45 minutes.

“It’s hard when you’ve just lost 7-5, but you’ve got to take some.

“The atmosphere at half-time was quite buoyant, but I felt the job was definitely not done.

“And when you’ve got people with the calibre they have on the pitch and the players they were putting on, that’s why. But we have to take it on the chin and move on very, very quickly.

“There was nothing to be said at full-time. Sometimes you’re better off to say nothing – there’s no point.”

McDermott must now lift his players ahead of their massive six-pointer with fellow Premier League strugglers QPR on Sunday (live on Sky Sports 1, 1.30pm kick-off).

Reading will be desperate for their first win in the league to kick start their season.

Royals fans will be encouraged by their side’s ability to score goals, as shown in last night’s display, but it is at the back where there are concerns.

However, McDermott said: “It’s what football’s all about. We’ll take a few days off and look to get back on track as soon as possible.

“I will lift myself and then I’ll lift the players.”

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Most recent user comments 9 of 9

I suppose I have two overriding emotions from last night. Embarrassment & Anger.

Embarrassment because we let slip a 4 goal lead - should never happen - Full stop - So congtraulations to Arsenal for coming back.

Anger because the game should have been over when the goal was scored - I can understand finding 4 minutes extra over 45 mins but 2 minutes extra in 4 minutes of added time (50% extra time!) behave. Generally for both sides the ref was poor but staggers me how he didn't send Kosceilny off before full time for the foul on Roberts!

Anger also because collectively the RFC players seemed to think the game was done and seemed almost to be waiting for the ref to blow up rather than playing.

Difficult to single out any player for criticism as no one player was responsible for last night - however that was most certainly not Gorkks best game for Reading - he seemed to crack from the moment his loose header precipitated the first Arsenal goal.

Having said all of that a great game - who'd have thought that Arsenal would need 6 goals to beat us?? Knowing Reading we will now manage several clean sheets over the coming weeks!

URZZZZ

Robsy , Reading
31/10/2012 at 11:16

Embarrassing is the word but I don't think we should be changing managers at this point - just more upheaval. McD does need to bang some heads tohether though.

Snowdrop, Twyford
31/10/2012 at 11:03

Believe it or not, there were quite a lot of positives to take from last nights game. It was a freak cup game and everyone should just move on.

@Russell B - not that it really matters, but 2 of the 5 occassions we 'threw' away the lead were down to refereeing mistakes. The occassions were when the opposition upped there game. It is the nature of football that a team scores and then the other team scores. Yes, we need to turn draws into wins and be much tighter at the back. But it is unfair for everyone to keep going on about how we have thrown away leads. People seem to live in dream land and think we were just going to carry on like last season. Hopefully it will mirror last season, where we also had a bad start and the points will now start rolling in.

I love the way that the article tries to add extra drama to the QPR game calling it a massive 6 pointer. It is just an ordinary league match, one of 38 that the team will play.

Smiffy, Reading
31/10/2012 at 10:48

Grow up RBC, football is a ruthless business, succeed or get fired!

If he gets sacked he will walk away with around £1m and walk straight into another job.

Get over yourself!

love buddha, Berkshire
31/10/2012 at 10:43

Absolutely crazy post on this subject. Mcdermot a genius for recovery and we will bounce back. Last nights craziness a one off and not the same as the league. QPR beware !

Fondue
31/10/2012 at 10:40

Yes - why not try to make money out of a decent guy (and a great manager) potentially losing his job. What a charming individual you must be - your mother must be so proud of you.