Brian McDermott hailed Matej Vydra's "match winning tackle" to help Reading clinch a 1-0 victory over Bristol City on Saturday.

The striker has been unable to produce his best form since joining the Royals on a season-long loan from Watford in the summer and has only scored twice in 17 matches.

However, McDermott is unconcerned with the Czech Republic international’s lack of goals.

He has instead focused on the 23-year-old’s work rate and attitude and praised the desire Vydra has shown to help his teammates.

That was highlighted on Saturday as it was Vydra’s challenge deep in his own half which led to Nick Blackman’s late winning goal.

“Matty Vydra was excellent today,” McDermott told the Maidenhead Advertiser.

“He worked his socks off. He could have got three goals. He kept putting himself on the line, which is really important. He never hid. He made an unbelievable tackle late in the game.

“It doesn’t matter (that he didn’t score). He is putting himself on the line and that is the most important thing.”

McDermott continued: “He is a bit down and I said ‘listen, I’m not down, just keep doing what you’re doing, you keep putting yourself on the line'. 

"We have just shown him the goal in the staff room afterwards and I said ‘that is what a match winner does and that is what you have done today’ and, in his way, that tackle has been a match winning tackle for us.”

Elsewhere in the Championship, Gabriele Angella and Queens Park Rangers suffered a 2-1 defeat to Hull City on Friday, Diego Fabbrini was an unused substitute as Middlesbrough overcame Derby County 2-0 and Daniel Pudil played 90 minutes as Sheffield Wednesday overcame Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham 1-0.

In National League South Jorell Johnson played 90 minutes as St Albans City played out a 1-1 draw with Bishop’s Stortford.

European action got back underway following the winter break and there was a disappointing defeat for Miguel Layun’s Porto.

The Dragons were beaten 2-0 by rivals Sporting, a result which saw Porto slip to second behind their opponents in the LIGA NOS table.

Spanish full-back Juanfran completed 90 minutes for Deportivo La Coruna as they were beaten 2-0 Villarreal in La Liga.