Brian McDermott praises Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy after QPR draw

Reading boss Brian McDermott heaped praise on goalkeeper Alex McCarthy after he earned the Royals a point against fellow strugglers QPR at Loftus Road.

Yesterday's clash pitted the only two teams in the league without a win this season against each other, and it remained that way as they played out a 1-1 draw.

Former QPR defender Kaspars Gorkss put Reading ahead in the 16th minute after Sean Morrison had hit the bar from a corner, but the hosts improved as the match went on and Djibril Cisse equalised 24 minutes from time.

Rangers looked the more likely to win it and would have but for a brilliant save from McCarthy, who had earlier pushed an Esteban Granero free-kick onto the bar, to deny Adel Taarabt in the 83rd minute.

McCarthy, 22, was loaned out to Leeds and Ipswich last season but displaced Adam Federici as Reading's number one earlier this season and is rapidly building a name for himself.

McDermott said of his standout saves: "The first one he just got a touch on and it's a fabulous save, then with Taarabt going through, that was a fabulous save as well.

"He's a very good young goalkeeper, we're blessed to have good goalkeepers at our club, and that was a point-winning save at the end. He'll work hard and he'll keep working hard to get as good as he can possibly be."

The result lifted QPR above Southampton on goal difference at the bottom but they remain five points from safety, with Reading a point better off.

Much was expected from Rangers this season after their summer spending spree and the frustration of the home fans was audible throughout the match.

Manager Mark Hughes remains confident their fortunes will soon turn around, and he said: "We're disappointed because we didn't get the three points we wanted but you've got to give credit to the opposition.

"In the first half we knew what they were going to do, we've prepared for it all week and it shouldn't have been a shock to us. But we came back.

"I think the vast majority of fans understand the team was trying really hard not to just sit on a 1-1 draw, and they appreciated that. We're working exceptionally hard on a daily basis to turn this around and we'll get there, we know that.

"The sooner it turns around the better, not so much in terms of staying in this league but we anticipated before the season started that we would have a really successful season.

"The longer this run goes on then that successful season is in danger and we might obviously be involved in the situation we were in last season.

"We need a little break, things didn't go for us today, but in terms of what the players are giving myself and the club I can't fault that."

PA