A jubilant Reading manager Brian McDermott celebrated his "best moment in football" as the Royals sealed promotion to the Barclays Premier League with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
A Mikele Leigertwood goal ten minutes from time earned Reading a return ticket to the big time four years after they were relegated.
There was still time after Leigertwood's goal for Forest substitute Marcus Tudgay to see a possible equaliser cleared from the goal line by Reading defender Alex Pearce, but they hung on for a win which, combined with West Ham's draw at Bristol City, ensures them a top-two finish.
They sit three points clear of Southampton with two games left to play in the title race.
The final whistle sparked a mass pitch invasion by excited home fans and then an appearance in the directors' box by the Reading players.
There was also some joy for Forest who, despite their defeat, are guaranteed survival in the npower Championship thanks to results elsewhere.
A delighted McDermott said: "This is my best moment in football. My worst was on the pitch at Wembley on May 30 (last year's play-off final defeat to Swansea).
"We are in the Premier League now and I can celebrate for the next two months. I need to get away for a while in the summer and have a break.
"Tonight was the most important three points we have got this season because it has seen us over the line.
"I don't know how I am supposed to be. I had the worst summer last season after losing the play off final against Swansea but this will be a good summer.
"I didn't actually know the West Ham result until after our game had finished but I sensed it from the way the crowd was reacting.
"It's really strange. It doesn't seem real at the moment and it doesn't feel as if it is happening to me.
"Now I will simply concentrate on our next game at home to Crystal Place because that's in my nature.
"I thought we were a bit nervous tonight and we weren't as fluid as we can be.
McDermott praised Jason Roberts, saying: "Jason has been crucial to us but we were doing well before he arrived.
"I have been lucky with my players and staff. They have carried me on.
"We have had difficult times and had to sell our best players but now it will be a good summer.
"The players will have tomorrow off but then it's back into training for the next game."
Before Leigertwood scored the winner George Elokobi had come close to putting Forest in front with a shot that hit the Reading bar while at the other end Lee Camp made a superb save to keep out a Hayden Mullins effort.
The win was Reading's first home victory over Forest in seven years.
Losing manager Steve Cotterill said afterwards: "I don't think we deserved to lose.
"From seventy minutes onwards I thought we looked the better team and were going to win the game.
"It's a measure of how far we have come as a team in recent weeks is that we were on the road to (League) One and now after playing the top team in the league the lads are sitting in the dressing room disappointed that we didn't win the game.
"But congratulations to Brian McDermott and the Reading boys on their promotion. They deserve it.
"I watched Brian walk round the Wembley pitch after the play off final and he looked so upset. I rang him the next day to try and cheer him up.
"He has the right sort of boys at this club so congratulations to him and to all of them on gaining a thoroughly deserved promotion."
Post Comment
