Sunday 20 December 2015 19:56, UK
Brian McDermott praised Reading goalscorer Danny Williams after securing a 1-0 Championship victory over Blackburn on his return to management at the Madejski Stadium.
Williams' early long-range volley ended Reading's miserable run of four successive defeats and inflicted on Blackburn their first loss in nine matches.
"The goal was right out of the top drawer, I can't wait to see it again," said McDermott, who is in his second spell at the club.
"It was a fantastic goal. When you make a run like that and then smash it in the top corner, that's some strike. It was incredible.
"I got a lovely welcome back [by the fans]. I really appreciated it. I got a really nice welcome beforehand when someone gave me some chocolate in the car park. That was lovely.
"It did feel like a homecoming but I didn't want to build it up too much. I just wanted us to concentrate on what we had to do, which was the most important thing. And it was a good day for us."
McDermott left Reading in March 2013. He arrived back in Berkshire, replacing the sacked Steve Clarke with the team having won just once in 10 matches.
Blackburn made the better start, though. Fode Koita should have given them the lead early on, when he rose alone to meet a Craig Conway free-kick, but with the goal at his mercy he headed wastefully over.
It proved costly, with Reading going ahead in the 11th minute. Hal Robson-Kanu nodded on a Chris Gunter pass forward and Williams ran on to it from deep. With barely a look up, he thundered home a fierce, angled volley past Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Steele.
Blackburn responded well, with Ben Marshall shooting over from a free-kick and home keeper Jonathan Bond saving well from a low drive from former Reading midfielder Hope Akpan.
But Reading took control in the second half, with Steele making a succession of stops to deny Williams, Robson-Kanu, Garath McCleary, Ola John twice and Nick Blackman.
Blackburn rarely threatened but Jordan Rhodes should have done better when blazing over from a good position and Koita was denied by home keeper Bond in stoppage time.
"I couldn't have asked for anything more," Paul Lambert, the Blackburn manager, said. "We dominated the game in the first half but, when you don't get anything from it, that sometimes happens.
"I was really pleased with parts of the second half as well. The commitment, at certain times, was very good. We were beaten by a wonder goal. It was a terrific strike.
"He [Williams] could probably do that again and it would end up somewhere else. I think you'll do well to see one better than that this season."
