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Bolton 0-1 Reading: Brian McDermott hails 'genius' Ola John

Ola John gave Reading a late winner against Bolton.
Image: Ola John gave Reading a late winner against Bolton

Reading manager Brian McDermott hailed match-winner Ola John's "genius" after the substitute broke 10-man Bolton's resistance with a last-gasp wonder goal.

The on-loan Benfica winger lashed a 30-yard drive out of Ben Amos' reach to spoil a man-of-the-match display by the former Manchester United goalkeeper.

"When it gets to 90-odd minutes, you get a bit worried," McDermott said after the 1-0 triumph - the Royals' first win in six league and cup outings. "But I thought it was going to come.

"It was a fabulous goal to end it and Ola John has got that ability and skill. He has got that something special in the locker and that's why we brought him on. To bring him off the bench was a real bonus.

"We had a little spell in the second half but we didn't move the ball quickly enough. And so you need that bit of genius and he produced that."

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Highlights from the Macron stadium as Bolton took on Reading in the Sky Bet Championship

Amos made a string of fine saves including a 22nd-minute penalty stop from Matej Vydra after the incident that led to the first red card of defender Rob Holding's career.

"We deserved to win but you have got to give credit to Bolton," McDermott added. "The way they played for their manager, the new owner and their fans was a credit.

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"Down to 10 men they made it really difficult for us. And Jimmy Phillips couldn't have asked for any more."

Ola John gave Reading a late winner against Bolton.
Image: Ola John gave Reading a late winner against Bolton

Asked about Holding's sending-off, McDermott said: "He (Vydra) was going to have a shot and he was brought down.

"I always think with something like that the penalty is enough. But the rules are the rules and he (the referee) sees it as a clear chance, a one versus one."

Phillips, still to win after temporarily taking charge following Neil Lennon's departure, called Holding's sending-off by referee Geoff Eltringham "harsh".

He said: "I haven't seen it again but live I saw both players going in for the challenge and Rob looking to play the ball to the corner flag.

"That's the direction the ball took. The referee must have seen something different but it changed the game from then on.

"Potentially, it looked harsh on Rob but the thing he will learn from that is getting his starting position better in the first place."

Reading manager Brian McDermott
Image: Reading manager Brian McDermott praised Ola John

Bottom-of-the-table Bolton's defeat leaves them 15 points from safety with only seven games remaining.

Tuesday's match at Brentford could see them all but mathematically relegated if they lose and other results again go against them.

"I have just got to get the team playing as well as it can until the end of the season, picking up as many points as we can," Phillips added.

"As a club we have got to make sure, whatever league we are playing in next season, we start off positively. We can only do that by ending this season as well as we can.

"We don't want it to fade out and drift away. We want to finish with some team performances where all 11 players are working for each other."

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