McDermott bemoans first half display

Reading manager Brian McDermott said his side's first half performance against Spurs was very disappointing, but admitted the visitors deserved to gain the three points.

After over three weeks without a Premier League game, the Royals returned to action, but were very much outclassed by an impressive Tottenham side 3-1. Jermain Defoe scored the opener on 17 minutes in a first half dominated by Spurs, but Reading came out in the second period much better. However, goals from Gareth Bale and Defoe in the second half sealed the game for Andre Villas-Boas' side.

Speaking to the Official Reading FC website, McDermott said: 'I didn't recognise us in the first half, I thought we were too submissive and didn't get on the ball enough, be brave or get in their faces. We had to make the change at half time, then we were better for 20 minutes but we needed to score in that period to make it a different game.'

'We were a lot better in the period leading up to that but we came up against a top class side who played well. They deserved to win. I know we'll play top class opposition and we'll lose games - I can take losing but we can't have the way we lost the first half. Whatever the formation, it's about the mindset.'

'First half is not what we are about and not how we play, we didn't perform. What we have to do is move on quickly, you have to in this league. We can't have performances like the first half and expect to win. Sometimes we were trying to play our way out of positions where you can't do that. Spurs deserved to win the game.'

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