Manager Brian McDermott was again delighted with his players after another top class performance from his side saw off Bristol City, and he also praised our loyal fans as they too gave everything and further increased the ever-growing bond between our team and supporters.
Two first half goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson earned us a comfortable three points, and we could have scored more goals after making City look rather ordinary on the day.
Brian said afterwards, "I am really pleased. It could have been a lot more than 2-0, even at half time. We started quickly again and some of the quality of the play was outstanding, and we also defended really well. It was a good win in all departments.
"You know Bristol City can give you a tough game but we acquitted ourselves really well. We got to 2-0, we had plenty of one-on-ones in the second half and I'm just disappointed we didn't get a third because 2-0 can be a little dangerous. We saw it through well though and the players have done us proud again.
"The mood has been good here for a long period of time. It's been good for the supporters and we're trying to give them value for money. That's our third home game on the spin and they are coming out and supporting us so I'm really pleased for them.
"We know they will turn out and support us if they see players giving everything for the shirt and trying to play with some quality. That's what I like and you can't just ask fans to turn up and sing, they have to see players giving their all. They've seen players give their all against Villa, Derby and now Bristol City and I'm really pleased that the fans are creating a bond between themselves and the players. There's a nice camaraderie at the moment."
Sigurdsson was hugely influential and came close to his hat-trick on a number of occasions but found Dean Gerken in frustratingly good form for the visitors. Brian said, "Gylfi is a natural goalscorer, he's a special boy and has real quality. We've had him here a long time and he gets in the right areas, the first goal was a fantastic cross from Jobi. The whole group are doing well and we're delighted with them. Players are coming in and out of the team and singing from the same hymn sheet.
"Brynjar came into the team, he is a fantastic pro. It was great to have Jobi back as well and we've said many times it's a squad game. Everyone is battling together."
Another player who deserves a mention is Adam Federici, having denied Jamal Campbell-Ryce with an excellent stop when the winger went through early on in the second half. Brian said, "He's done it a number of times and you could regard that as a match-winning save.
"One-against-one with Campbell-Ryce, if that goes in it's a different game and give him credit for that. He didn't have a lot to do but what he did, he did it well."
The victory puts McDermott's team up to 16th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone and with a game in hand. Media in the post-match press conference were also keen to get Brian's thoughts on whether he is looking further up the table, now that we are eight points from sixth, again with a game in hand. He said, "I wasn't aware of that and it doesn't matter, we just worry about our next game with QPR. Three points in that game is all we can affect. We're happy with the job we've done today and we move on to the next one against QPR, we're enjoying ourselves.
"We want to get out of the bottom half and three points against QPR gets us closer to where we want to be. Once you're in the top half you can see what happens next.
"We've been on a phenomenal run but we've not moved up all that far and it's really tight at both ends. We're in the middle of it now, which is better than we were, but you can't lose your focus, you concentrate on what happens next."
Lastly, Brian was slightly later than normal into his post-match press conference, but did apologise to the waiting media, saying with a glint in his eye, "Sorry I'm late chaps - I was washing my hair!"
A full post-match video interview with Brian is available now on Reading FC Player - sign up for a free 14-day trial!
Tickets for Tuesday's game are on general sale now to all Member Card holders. Telephone 0844 249 1871, use the online ticketing service or visit in person.
