Reading boss Brian McDermott praised his side for seeing the game out after snatching a late winner against Birmingham.
Royals boss praises young side
Reading boss Brian McDermott praised his side for seeing the game out after snatching a late winner against Birmingham at the Madejski Stadium.
Noel Hunt was the hero for the Royals, coming off the bench to grab the only goal of the game with 15 minutes left.
The win ensured the club moved up to 14th place in the Championship and level on points with Birmingham, ending the Blues' nine-match unbeaten run in the process.
McDermott was delighted with the way his players dug in and held on for the three points after letting a lead slip late on in a game against Southampton a few weeks ago.
"We have different players from last season and a lot of young players. The more they play together the better they will be," said the 50-year-old.
"We still have to work on those final bits of the game that make the difference. It's all about small margins in this league.
"I was particularly pleased with the way we closed the game down in the final stages. We didn't do that when we were 1-0 up against Southampton and they came back to draw.
Learnt a lot
"We learnt a lot from that game and we also learnt a lot from a 2-0 defeat against Watford earlier in the season.
"Our two centre-backs were really good - Birmingham's strikers are a handful - and our full-backs and goalkeeper did really well.
"I thought last night that this could be a one goal game and I didn't want it to be a goal against us. I wrote in the programme that we had to start turning tight draws into wins and this was exactly the sort of game I was thinking of."
Birmingham manager Chris Hughton refused to blame his side's Europa League exploits for the defeat, but confessed that his squad were ready for a rest during the international break after a hectic domestic and European schedule.
"I don't think our Europa League game on Thursday had any effect on us. I thought we were still going strongly at the end," said Hughton.
"I thought we looked the better side, particularly in first half when we were very bright against a good Reading team that that have a good record here.
"You don't have your own way for 90 minutes at Reading and they probably edged it in the second half.
Standards
"I couldn't see us conceding but by our standards I think that when the goal came it was a poor one to concede. I thought it was one of those games where one goal could win it.
"It's impossible to sustain top form all season in this league but the important thing is to bounce back after a poor result.
"The international break now gives the players some time off. We know what's coming after the break when it will be relentless and this is the last chance we will have for a breather."
