Brian McDermott believes his Reading side proved they can cope without Gylfi Sigurdsson as they secured a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace. Sigurdsson joined German side Hoffenheim in a club record deal just before the transfer window shut, but McDermott's side produced an impressive display in their first game since the Iceland midfielder departed. Shane Long and Ian Harte, on his debut, both scored from the penalty spot and Jimmy Kebe put the icing on the cake with a late third goal to move Reading up to seventh in the npower Championship. McDermott said: "It was nice to win our first game after losing Gylfi Sigurdsson to Germany. I watched him playing for Hoffenheim on television last night and that was a surreal experience. "He was our leading scorer, but even without him I have got goals in all areas of the team including wide areas and set-plays. "Whether they share the goals around doesn't really matter."
Source: PA
Source: PA