Reading 2 Doncaster Rovers 0: Former Millers star Le Fondre leaves Rovers rooted to the bottom

The 2-0 win was Reading’s first at home this season and lifted them into 14th place, leaving Doncaster at the foot of the table.

“I am delighted that Adam Le Fondre scored. It was a great cross from Mills and a great header,” said McDermott.

“The last 20 minutes wasn’t great to watch but we got the result.

“I started Adam on the bench because I thought starting with Noel Hunt and Simon Church was right for this game.

“Some of his touches were excellent and he can create as well as score. That was a difficult header for his goal.”

The Royals’ opening goal came seven minutes after the interval when Le Fondre challenged goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, who lost possession. Wales international Church was first to the loose ball and tapped it into an empty net.

Seven minutes later Reading stretched their lead. Joseph Mills sent in a cross from the left and Le Fondre clinically headed low into the corner of the net.

Doncaster manager Sean O’Driscoll felt his side were unfortunate that Reading’s opener was not given as a foul on the recalled Sullivan.

“He got one hand to the ball and Le Fondre jumped into him. In English football if you jump into the keeper you give away a foul.

“We made too many mistakes and in this position you can’t afford to make many mistakes.

“It’s too easy to say that we are not getting the rub of the green.

“We have to be more clinical in situations and learn from our errors or we are just going to go from game to game making the same mistakes.”

Reading: Federici, Cummings, Gorkss, Pearce, J Mills, Kebe (Le Fondre 41), Tabb, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Church, Hunt. Unused substitutes: McCarthy, Gunnarsson, Howard, Manset.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, O’Connor, Friend, Martis, Spurr (Stock 79), Oster, Gillett, Barnes (Hird 79), Coppinger, Hayter, Bennett (Lalkovic 54). Unused substitutes: G Woods, Wilson.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Man of the match: James Coppinger.