McDermott delight at cup run

Royals boss looking forward to Villa clash

Last updated: 5th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

McDermott delight at cup run

McDermott: Royals back on map

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Reading manager Brian McDermott believes the Royals' run in the FA Cup has put the club back on the map.

The Berkshire outfit were relegated from the Premier League in 2008 and missed out on an immediate return to the top flight the following year when they lost in the play-offs to Burnley.

A barren spell earlier in the season under former boss Brendan Rodgers left the Royals deep in the relegation mire, but they have clawed their way up to 18th under McDermott.

Reading have hit the headlines with their run in the FA Cup, most notably after dispatching of Liverpool at Anfield, and the manager is proud of his players.

"This cup run has put us back on the map, throughout Europe really," he said.

"Now there are eight teams left in the country and we're the only Championship one.

"But we want to go as far as we can. The cup has not been a distraction and we try and win every game.

"The way the players have performed and conducted themselves makes me massively proud and hopefully we will have another performance I can be proud of this Sunday.

"The club has made a few quid out of the cup which is great but we don't look at it like that, we see it as an opportunity and a wonderful time.

"The last time Reading reached the quarter-finals was 1927, let's see how far we can progress now."

Villa challenge

McDermott's Royals take on Aston Villa in their quarter-final at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

The Reading boss is not worried by the talent Villa have at their disposal and believes his side are capable of causing another upset.

"Some people look at the opposition and spend hours watching videos," he added.

"But I know the opposition so well and I know the Championship off by heart so

I can talk our players through it, and show them in training sessions on the pitch.

"Since I took over this job I have not shown the players one single video of the opposition, I just concentrate on us.

"I also know Villa because they have established Premier League players. The key is we do our work and concentrate on ourselves. We will look for any weaknesses Villa may have and try and get into the next round.

"Martin (O'Neill) wants to progress and get to Wembley for another cup final as much as I do.

"They've got good players in wide areas and up the pitch. But it doesn't worry me. We will try and play to our strengths and we will set up a plan to try and win."