Reading boss thanks Tottenham star

Saturday, September 15, 2012
9:11 AM

Reading manager Brian McDermott has admitted former Royals player Gylfi Sigurdsson saved him from getting the sack while at Reading.

Iceland midfielder Sigurdsson will return to Reading on Sunday with Tottenham and McDermott revealed the 23-year-old’s injury-time penalty against Liverpool during his time at the Berkshire club probably kept him in a job.

McDermott was in temporary charge at the time but had failed to guide the club to a victory in the Championship.

His side held Liverpool to a surprise draw in the third round of the FA Cup before traveling to Anfield for the replay, where Sigurdsson’s penalty levelled the game before Shane Long’s winner.

McDermott was later given the job on a full-time basis before leading Reading back to the Premier League,

but the 51-year-old believes he is indebted to Spurs man Sigurdsson for allowing him a stay of execution.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him, he is definitely one of our own,” he said.

“What he did for me personally when I got the job, if you consider it, we were at Anfield and I hadn’t won a game as caretaker manager and Shane Long got a penalty in the 92nd minute.

“Gylfi took the best penalty I have ever seen under pressure, it was just incredible so I owe him a lot really.”