McEveley thrilled to play part in Rams winner
McEveley has been employed at centre-half and in midfield by Rams boss Nigel Clough but kept out of his preferred position by summer signing Dean Moxey.
Moxey, though, was dropped to the bench on Saturday and McEveley was given his chance to impress.
He did that and set up the winning goal for Rob Hulse with a pinpoint cross after combining well with winger Gary Teale.
"Me and Tealey were limited with our supply and I couldn't really get the ball into his feet as much as I wanted to, because their lad was stopping me," said McEveley.
"But on a rare occasion that we got to link up, he played me in nicely and I just got my head down and got the ball where the gaffer wants it – inbetween the six-yard box and the penalty spot – and Hulsey was there to do what he does best."
McEveley was again sporting his face mask following his recovery from a fractured cheekbone, suffered in the defeat at Middlesbrough in October.
"It was nice to be back in the starting line-up. It had been a long time in coming," said the Scottish international.
"I've waited for my chance – I thought I'd done enough to stay in the team against Sheffield Wednesday (when he scored in a 3-0 win) but it wasn't meant to be.
"Then, he's put me in against Middlesbrough and I thought I'd get a run in the team but fractured my cheekbone.
"But I've waited patiently, worked hard and kept myself right.
"I felt OK out there, fitness-wise, which is a credit to the gaffer and his training methods.
"It was just nice to be able to help the team to a win."
McEveley was impressed by the character shown by the Rams as they came from behind to win 2-1 for the second home game running.
He said: "It was a bit scrappy in the first half. We looked to counter attack them and had a few good chances but the final ball wasn't there.
"But we had to be aware because we knew they could break quickly on us too, which they did a few times.
"We made sure we were tight at the back but unfortunately conceded a goal, when the first ball should have gone into their half but we decided to pass a short ball and paid the price.
"Then we showed the character that is in the team now. Not so long ago, if we went 1-0 down at home, it was game over.
"But we fought back, were on the front foot and kept going.
"We got ourselves level and from then on, I think there was only one team that was going to score and that was us, and luckily the goal came."
"We're slowly building to play how the gaffer wants us to and if we do go behind, now we have got the mentality to say, 'That's not a problem. We'll get a goal and then we'll get another one'.
"We've proved we can do that a couple of times this season."
Reading were reduced to 10 men late on when Shane Long was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Fredrik Stoor.
"I think it was a sending off," said McEveley. "The lad's gone in with his studs up. I don't think it was intentional but Freddie's got a big mark on his ankle where he caught him, so he has caught him high and if Freddie's foot was on the ground, it was an ankle-breaker. So he had to go.
"Even when they were down to 10 men, we came under a bit of pressure and there was a bit of tension around the ground but we hung in there and got the three points."
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