McDermott's dream comes true at last

Reading manager Brian McDermott cannot wait to walk out at Wembley after a career of missed opportunities when it comes to taking centre stage at England's home of football.

McDermott last night guided the Royals to a 3-0 semi-final second-leg victory over Cardiff and a showdown with Swansea in the npower Championship play-off final on May 30, with just one lucrative encounter now separating both sides from a coveted place in the Barclays Premier League.

Shane Long was the matchwinner in the Welsh capital as he bagged his 24th and 25th goals of the season, the second from the spot, before Jobi McAnuff struck a late third to secure a convincing victory, with the tie goalless after the first leg at the Madejski Stadium.

McDermott said: "I've been to Wembley in 1978/79/80 with Arsenal and never played. I was at Oxford and never played when we won in 1986 (League Cup). I missed out in an FA Trophy semi-final against Southport, I missed out to go to the semi-finals against Aston Villa and against Manchester City. That's what it means to me. To go out there, walk out with the team, our supporters behind us."