Oppositions View - Brian McDermott - Reading

Reading manager Brian McDermott was not exactly happy with the officials after watching his championship winning side go down 2-0 against Birmingham City on Saturday.

It was Reading`s first defeat in eight games but it did mean that Blues go into the play-offs in a confident mood after a strong end to the season.

But McDermott was more concerned about the penalty he feels his side should have got after a tackle on Adam le Fondre by Curtis Davies.

And in the second half there were three spot kicks awarded, but while Birmingham had no problem with theirs, Ian Harte saw his kick saved by Colin Doyle.

McDermott said: 'It was a funny decision in the first half when the referee didn't give us a penalty which would have made 1-1. There could have been a sending off and he missed it and then he gave three silly penalties in the second half.

'It is all irrelevant now but I would not have liked have come here wanting a point and not getting it because of that decision. But we have played 46 games and won the league and that is what it is all about.

'I think Birmingham are a really good side and (play-off opponents) Blackpool will have a tough ask. There is a good atmosphere and Birmingham have good players. They also have a good manager in Chris Hughton. He is a class act.

'He said he would have liked to have done a guard of honour but the league, for whatever reason, said they couldn't. If we brought the champions to our ground in the last game of the season I would insist we give them a guard of honour. It is a nice touch.'

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