Reading FC boss Brian McDermott has championed his in-form striker Adam Le Fondre, who scored twice as Reading snatched a 2-2 draw against Derby County.

Le Fondre scored an instinctive volley and a header as the Royals came from behind twice in front of a buoyant Madejski Stadium crowd.

McDermott was understandably delighted with Le Fondre and said: "Alfie has got two great goals - the first one was a fabulous finish and the second a really good header from a great Hal Robson-Kanu ball.

"Their goalkeeper has pulled off a fantastic save from Alfie again in the first half - it was a great header and that could have been a hat-trick for him.”

During the first half, Reading dominated and found inroads through set-plays. Hal Robson-Kanu sent in a teasing free-kick which Le Fondre headed goalwards into the bottom corner, but Frankie Fielding hung down low to pull off a stunning save.

Jimmy Kebe had a promising chance on the other side of the break, yet passed wide to Simon Church when through on goal, seeing the ball trickle away from danger.

And the Royals paid for their wastefulness moments later. Ben Davies dinked in a free-kick which Theo Robinson side-footed home in calm fashion.

Determined, Reading drove forwards and broke down the right wing. Jem Karacan headed a deep ball back across the goal, leaving Adam Le Fondre to chest down and hook the ball into the top left hand corner in majestic fashion.

On as a substitute, Tomas Cywka made the best possible impact and arrowed a Connor Doyle cross home from close range to send the visitors ahead again.

But Reading, now unbeaten in six, managed to rise again and got a second equaliser of the match. Robson-Kanu fizzed in a low ball which Le Fondre nodded home inside the right-hand post.

Despite the draw, McDermott was pleased with the fighting qualities of his side, and praised Reading’s resilience.

“Credit to our players once again. We were 1-0 down and 2-1 down late on but we kept trying to win the game”, he said.

“We couldn’t quite nick it in the end. If we'd scored the first goal today I think we would have won. But Derby are flying high in the league right now and we'll take the point and move on."