Royals boss Brian McDermott was delighted to take a late 1-0 victory over Birmingham, and believes the win gives his team an important psychological boost.

The visitors were unbeaten in nine games prior to this fixture, so it was a good win for Brian's side, bouncing back from a midweek reverse at Nottingham Forest.

Noel Hunt's late goal broke City's sequence of 500 League minutes without conceding a goal, and takes us into a two-week international break in a positive mood.

Brian said, "Psychologically that is a really big three points.

"It's a well-earned win and I think it's been coming over a period of time. We've done well in other games and should have won, but 'should haves' are no good, you have to go out there and do it.

"I think Birmingham are a very good side, one of the form sides in the League, there were very small margins in the game and we got the goal. We're trying to win games, we started well against a good, well organised side. They have a great manager and a lot of threats up front and out wide.

"We kept going, got a late goal and might have got more, but in fairness Feds also made saves in the first half. Our team is evolving well, there's 16 games gone, plenty of points to play for.

"I thought about it last night, that it could be a one-goal game, and I didn't want it to be against us. We had to do the right things and I thought we saw the game out well. We learned from the Southampton game when we didn't do the right things and lost a goal from a throw in. It's good that a young side is learning, we had talked about it."



McDermott was delighted for matchwinner Hunt, who popped up with an important striker's finish.

Brian said, "I was so pleased for him, he came off the bench and he really wants to do well for the team, they all do. His attitude has been first class and he's worked really hard. He's the senior player among the strikers, I know he can score and it's good for him. His attitude has been first class even though he's not been starting."

Skipper Jobi McAnuff had missed a good chance moments before Noel's goal, but dug deep to find inner strength and make a vital contribution for the winner.

Brian said, "Eamonn Dolan has a saying that you have to have a short memory in football, which is a great saying and Jobi got an assist that won us the game.

"Jobi did really well, he didn't give up on it, got a good cross into the box and Noel got across the centre half for a really good finish."



Left back Joseph Mills was named man of the match, and Brian was very pleased for the defender, saying, "Good for Joseph, I'm delighted for him.

"It's never easy to play against Burke, he's a good player but he matched him, pace wise as well.

"He was unfortunate in the first half with a shot, it was a great save so I'm delighted for him.

"Everyone in the dressing room has played a part, I'm delighted for the whole group. We tried to play on the front foot, the way we started was very encouraging.

"I thought the centre halves were magnificent, Pearcey and Kaspars, up against strikers who are two real handfuls and a big solid team. They've got decent wide players but our full backs handled them.

"We can have a good couple of weeks now going into the Cardiff game."

Brian's full post-match video interview is live on Reading FC Player now - complete with the sound of Michael Jackson coming from the home dressing room!