AUDIO: Reading boss Brian McDermott backed the Canaries to push hard for promotion in the final third of the season after his side were hit by yet another late goal.

The Royals have taken just one point out of the last nine available but it would have been five points had they not conceded late in each game.

'It's happened in the last three games – QPR last week in the 82nd minute, Cardiff away in the 97th minute and today in the 94th minute. That can't keep happening, we know that,' he said.

'Anything that can go wrong at the minute has gone wrong for us, but I was proud of our players today. We've come to a place which is difficult, and they're a good side, Norwich, they played some good football, especially in the first 20 minutes.

'We had to stay in the game, which we did. Once we got the goal we were causing them problems and even at 1-1 with 10 men Michail Antonio had a chance, which they got a block on. We thought we'd maybe just go and nick it but I never thought we'd lose it in the 94th minute.

'We've scored enough late goals ourselves to know how important it is to just keep going and Norwich are a side that keep going as we do.

'So good luck to them today and I'm sure that they'll be very close to going up this year. If they keep their form going, to come here and get a result is difficult. They play some good stuff and I would imagine they will be close.'

McDermott had no complaints about Jem Karacan's red card for a foul on David Fox.

'He's mistimed the tackle and in 2011 players get sent off for that. Unfortunately for us, he misses three games,' he said.

But he argued that Reading should have had a penalty at the start of the second half when Fox appeared to foul Jay Tabb.

'There are two choices the ref has there,' said McDermott.

'He either gives a penalty or books Jay Tabb. I've seen it again, he's pulled him back, so you've got to make the decision – you book him for diving if that's what he feels he's done, or you give a penalty. There is no grey area there for me. But he did neither.'