Brian McDermott: 'We should have had a penalty'

Reading manager Brian McDermott has criticised the referee's decision not to give his side a penalty in the closing stages of their 2-1 defeat to Stoke City this afternoon.

Adam Le Fondre went down under the challenge of Ryan Shotton late on, but Michael Oliver waved away the claims for a spot kick and Stoke went on to hold out for the victory.

The decision left McDermott scratching his head, but he acknowledged that referees only get one chance to make the correct decision.

"Most people would say it was a stonewall penalty. It's a very unfortunate that [the referee] has decided not to give that," said McDermott.

"In my opinion it's a penalty but he's had one look at it and not given it.

"I thought we would get at least a point but they don't lose many games here. They know what they're doing."

The defeat leaves Reading 17th in the Premier League table, while Stoke now sit 10th.