The Royals’ temporary boss hit out at official Lee Mason after he felt that a penalty should have been given for Nemanja Vidic’s push on Adrian Mariappa shortly after half-time

Reading caretaker manager Eamonn Dolan was left incensed by referee Lee Mason’s performance in their 1-0 defeat against Manchester United, accusing the referee of treating him as if he were on “work experience”.

After Wayne Rooney opened the scoring just before the 20-minute mark, the Royals failed to find their way back into the game and now lie seven points adrift of safety.

Dolan, however, felt that the referee had a large part to play in the result as, immediately after half-time, there was no penalty given despite Nemanja Vidic’s apparent push on Adrian Mariappa in the box.

“It was a clear penalty but I think the referee thought I was on work experience and, ‘perfect a little 1-0 loss for Reading’ and [he] would be fine,” he told Sky Sports.

“I wouldn’t have expected that from the referee but what can you do?”

Dolan also spoke of the surprise sacking of Brian McDermott, admitting that he was as shocked as anyone to hear that his former colleague had been dismissed.

“”No one was more surprised than me,” he added. “It is well documented that Brian is a good friend of mine but the decision was made and we move forward.”