Reading manager Brian McDermott has admitted that his team "came up short" against fellow Premier League strugglers Sunderland this evening.

The Royals slipped to their fifth straight defeat at the Stadium of Light, meaning that they remain in the danger zone, with just one win in 16 games.

However, McDermott said that he cannot fault his players for effort, despite their desperate run of form.

"I'm disappointed with the results, I'm used to winning games," the 51-year-old told the club's official website. "At the moment we're not winning and we're in the results business.

"The boys are giving me everything though, I can't ask more from them and they had a real go for me.

"At the moment we've come up short but we have to stick together and drag ourselves out of it."

Reading host Arsenal next Monday.