Published: Thursday, 27th March, 2008 11:00
Coppell backs Doyle to deliver
By Anthony Smith
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Goal drought: Kevin Doyle desperately needs a goal.
STEVE Coppell is backing Kevin Doyle to end his goal drought as Reading go in search of a third successive home victory against Blackburn Rovers this Saturday.
The Royals have won their last two games at the Madejski Stadium by defeating Birmingham City 2-1 and Manchester City 2-0.
And the 1-0 triumph at Middlesbrough – their first away win of the season – further eased the club’s relegation fears.
While Doyle has played a leading role in those games, he has not scored in 15 Premier League games. His last goal came in the momentous 3-1 home victory over Liverpool on December 8.
That barren run is in sharp contrast to last season when the bargain £75,000 signing from Cork City rattled in 13 league goals in Reading’s debut top-flight season.
Coppell, though, insists Doyle, with five goals this season, is worthy of place in his team regardless of his current struggles.
“Kevin hasn’t scored for a while but I think he still plays a full role in our team.” insisted the Royals boss.
“He’s a good target man and he works his socks off for the team. He could have scored a couple against Birmingham City last week and on another day he would have.
“But I’m not too concerned and I would be more worried if he wasn’t getting the opportunities or putting himself in a position to score.”
Doyle looks certain to start up front again this Saturday alongside Dave Kitson with Republic of Ireland team-mate Shane Long on the bench.
And Coppell stressed: “My decisions are not loyalty-based. I go on performances and the contribution players make. I don’t pick Kevin Doyle because I like him.
“In my opinion he’s still the most complementary forward we’ve got.”
Doyle has not been alone in firing blanks and Reading recently went nearly eight hours without finding the net.
However, all that has changed in the last month and Coppell explained: “We had a tough run of games after Christmas. We had some good scoring opportunities in some but in others we didn’t.
“Our recent games have been very competitive and we’ve just edged them. But they could also have gone the other way.
“However, during that run there were other times when we lost and it could have been the other way around.
“Of course, by the end of the season you end up where you deserve. We have a common feeling about where we should be but let’s get there first.”
Meanwhile, Coppell has paid a glowing tribute to Blackburn boss Mark Hughes ahead of the weekend’s clash.
“He’s got great respect throughout the footballing world,” he said. “He was a terrific player with a rich career.
“He went into management at a young age, did a good job with Wales, and now he’s doing the same thing at Blackburn.
“He has made some significant signings. They weren’t massive money but they have served him well.”
And Coppell also insisted: “Blackburn aren’t a dirty side. Yes, they are uncompromising in defence but they also have some great individual players.
“I’d say David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz are at the top end of their game at the moment.
“They have four very, very different forwards and they can play any combination. They’re all a handful and we’re going to have to be strong at the back.
“But the table doesn’t lie after 30-odd games. They’re proving themselves every week and they’re challenging for Europe, which they will feel they have a good chance of making.”
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Hunt prefers points not plaudits