McDermott: 'We deserve everything we get'

Royal approval: Reading go to Wembley in a 3-0 win thanks to two goals from Shane Long

Reading manager Brian McDermott has praised his players’ faith throughout the season after they won 3-0 away at Cardiff to make this season’s Championship playoff final.

Two goals from Shane Long and one from Jobi McAnuff helped the Royals secure a spot at Wembley and a match up against former manager Brendan Rodgers’ Swansea City.

McDermott said: “This was a fantastic occasion and we are going to Wembley so I am absolutely delighted . This club is all about the group and they deserved everything they get.”

Reading sat in twelfth place in the Championship back in February but a late run helped secure fifth place. This win at the Cardiff City stadium stretched their unbeaten run away from home to nine games and gives them momentum going to Wembley.

McDermott added: “We had faith in what we could do and we never gave up.”

Just as Kevin Doyle was Reading’s hero when Steve Coppell led them to the Premier League in 2006, Irishman Shane Long was the man of the match and Reading’s after two goals taking his season tally to 25. His clever chip after a Stephen Bywater mistake and cool finish from twelve yards set the stall out in the first half before McAnuff finished it off.

“It means so much to all of us,” said Long. “It has been a long time coming.

“The game was not easy, we had to dig deep and it was just enough.”

A disappointed Dave Jones said Cardiff’s “hearts were on the floor” after his team yet again failed after fighting for promotion all season.
“I said to the players they have worked so hard again but it wasn’t to be. It is hard to swallow but you have to dust yourself down.

“Now is not the right time to reflect on the season, we need to go away and assess and that’s how the club has to grow. It’s Reading’s night it’s not our night.”

Jones delivered champagne to the Reading dressing room as a goodwill gesture but they will have to put it on ice for the time being and see if they can overcome another Welsh team at Wembley on May 30.