A makeshift Royals side pushed City all the way until Micah Richards netted a late header to leave McDermott beaming with pride and determined to make a late run for the top six.
He said: "We still want to get to Wembley.
"I've never even stepped on the pitch there, this was an opportunity but there will be others as well.
"I told the players at the end to look around the stadium because this is the kind of place we want to be playing at every week.
"We can do it, I'm convinced. Over the last 24 games we've lost four and we have got resolve and quality."
Source: PA
Source: PA