Reading

Despite being five points adrift and coming to the best footballing side in the division, they are still underestimating the mighty Rovers!




Reading FC confident ahead of Doncaster Rovers
By Jonny Fordham
February 05, 2010


Relegation may be staring Brian McDermott and his Reading squad square in the face, but the new boss has said that his players’ confidence is still sky high.

Having beaten Mark Robins’ Barnsley 1-0 last Saturday, Royals will be looking to build on their first Championship win in 2010 to creep back up the table and out of the bottom three.

Today sees Reading face another side from Yorkshire as McDermott takes his team up the M1 to Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat stadium.

And the former chief scout has declared that his team are more than up for the fight that lies ahead of them.

McDermott told the Post: “The confidence is still there throughout the squad and you could see that from the game against Barnsley.

“We had the chance to score before Shane eventually did, but they all stuck at it and kept the belief to go on and get the win.

“It was important to get that first home win in the league in 2010 – 2009 is in the past now and we all want to move forwards.

“It wasn’t the most attractive game of football you will ever see, but a win is still a win.

“We’ve got a solid back-four and having that stability and clean sheet to build on at this time of the season and the position that we find ourselves in is vital.”

McDermott has steered Reading to just five points from a possible 18 since taking over on December 16, but Royals are just about to enter a crucial run of games against teams at the lower end of the table.

However, with Donny sitting in 15th-place and widely touted as one of the best footballing sides in the division, McDermott knows the game won’t be easy.

McDermott explained: “Doncaster are a well-organised side and have some good footballers.

“Sean O’Driscoll has got them playing a certain way and they’re hard to beat, but we will be well-prepared ahead of the game.”