Dundee United boss Peter Houston praised his players after their latest fightback secured a 3-3 draw with Kilmarnock.
United trailed 2-0 and 3-1 at Tannadice before captain Jon Daly's double - the second goal coming in injury time - earned them a deserved draw.
Houston's team have scored late goals in three of their last four matches, claiming five points in the process.
"I asked them at half-time to show a wee bit of character and they did just that. I've got to take my hat off to them for that," Houston said.
"I felt we were totally dominant in the second half which speaks volumes for the lads' attitude.
"I must give them great credit for a never-say-die fight back. We got the goals which we deserved and to come from 2-0 down against a side like Killie is never easy.
"There was some stick coming from the supporters which I have to say was a bit disappointing. We played some really good football and scored some goals to match."
The Royals lie 18th in the Premier League and have not yet won a game this season.
Reports in the Dutch press over the last week have linked Advocaat to McDermott's job, with Russian owner Anton Zingarevich reportedly interested in talking to the former Holland boss.
When asked if he was aware of the rumours, McDermott said: "(He is a) decent manager - I haven't actually (read anything).
"It is pretty sad to have conversations like this really I think - you have a bunch of people here absolutely trying their best to the nth degree at the club."
Advocaat's managerial record will be well known to Zingarevich as the 65-year-old has previously been in charge of Zenit St Petersburg and the Russia national side.
But McDermott did not want to comment on the speculation and was more concerned with preparing his side for Saturday's visit of Everton.
He said: "We have got six draws, which could have been different, and great staff. Stories like that are stories - that is all they are.
"It is completely out of my control and is nothing to do with football, nothing to do with what we have to do on Saturday. It is nothing to do with it - that is the only thing that I would want to talk about."
The 51-year-old McDermott again distanced the club from a January transfer window binge.
Zingarevich is reportedly keen on bringing in a host of big-name signings in the new year to help keep the club in the top flight, but McDermott still does not see that happening.
"It came across that we were going to sign 10 players but that isn't the case," the Royals boss said. "He (Zingarevich) said we were just looking at 10 different types of players.
"We are actually looking at loads of players because that is what we do. Ten different players coming in is not true and it is never going to happen - we haven't got a budget to sign 10 players.
"I don't see a massive change in policy here unless I'm right in the middle of it."
Scholes celebrated his 38th birthday on Friday, in the middle of what Ferguson had previously indicated would be the midfielder's final season at Old Trafford.
However, although he had made only nine appearances this term, Scholes retains an unerring passing ability that is priceless to United's chances of landing some silverware.
And as it seems the former England man is more comfortable with his role as bit-part player, the chances of Scholes carrying on has not been completely dismissed.
"It is not a time to make a judgment on that," said Ferguson. "Paul will know himself. He still has the desire to play. That has not stopped.
"He is still the best passer of the ball in the country. It is amazing.
"He has had one or two injuries over the years, quit last summer and came back.
"He made a fantastic contribution in the second half of the season and I just think he should keep doing what he is doing.
"He will sort the rest out himself."
