Royals boss admits that he fought his side would win the game having seen his team fightback from 3-0 down.Reading manager Brian McDermott claimed his team comfortably outplayed Swansea City even though their Premier League dream was crushed at Wembley.
McDermott felt his team were on course for an incredible comeback as only the width of a post prevented Reading coming from three goals behind to draw level midway through the second half.
“I thought when we got to 3-2 we were going to win the game,” McDermott told reporters afterwards.
“I said to the players at half-time, ‘Don’t worry about four goals, get one’. We were inches away from the third goal. If we had made it 3-3 we would have won that game.”
The Reading boss expressed his congratulations to the 45th different club to play in the Premier League but believed Swansea were fortunate to run out winners by two goals.
“What I can say is I thought we were by far the better side,” McDermott added.
“We gave away a penalty, the second goal went straight to one of their players after Adam Federici palmed it out, the third went straight to one of their players.
"Obviously, the fourth goal killed the game but our players were a credit to the fans and club. I’m proud of the players. They showed great resilience. They are a great bunch. The fans could see the team giving it absolutely everything."
“Credit to Swansea. In the first half they were very good. They are a really good side and in the Premier League they will do well. “It gives you a feeling of wanting to come back and do better next times. It’s the only thing you can do.”
McDermott felt his team were on course for an incredible comeback as only the width of a post prevented Reading coming from three goals behind to draw level midway through the second half.
“I thought when we got to 3-2 we were going to win the game,” McDermott told reporters afterwards.
“I said to the players at half-time, ‘Don’t worry about four goals, get one’. We were inches away from the third goal. If we had made it 3-3 we would have won that game.”
The Reading boss expressed his congratulations to the 45th different club to play in the Premier League but believed Swansea were fortunate to run out winners by two goals.
“We gave away a penalty, the second goal went straight to one of their players after Adam Federici palmed it out, the third went straight to one of their players.
"Obviously, the fourth goal killed the game but our players were a credit to the fans and club. I’m proud of the players. They showed great resilience. They are a great bunch. The fans could see the team giving it absolutely everything."
“Credit to Swansea. In the first half they were very good. They are a really good side and in the Premier League they will do well. “It gives you a feeling of wanting to come back and do better next times. It’s the only thing you can do.”
