OLIVER Norwood is playing down Saturday’s clash at Madejski Stadium when third-placed Reading FC tackle second-placed Middlesbrough (3pm ko).

Royals have won four of their last five Championship games including a 2-1 victory at Burnley last Saturday.

But Norwood insists it would be wrong to read too much into this weekend’s Championship showdown.

The Northern Ireland international said: “It’s as big as every other game I’ve played in. We just have to take each game at it comes. We’re quietly confident but we aren’t going to say we’re going to win this or win that.

“Middlesbrough will be a good test. They’re one of the big spenders and are looking to get promoted this season, so it will be good to match ourselves against a top team to see how far we've come.

“We’ve won four out of five and put ourselves in a decent position."

Norwood, Matej Vydra and Jordan Obita were part of a ‘Meet the Royals’ session at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading on Wednesday when they mingled with fans and signed autographs.

“We’re doing alright at the minute which helps and the fans want to come on the journey with us,” added Norwood. “It's always nice to see them.

“After Saturday we have an international break when we hope to get two or three players back fit.”
Royals may be in the top three in the Championship, but they have only won once at Madejski Stadium this season after the 5-1 thrashing of Ipswich Town last month.

By stark contract they have won their last four games on their travels in all competitions thanks to league victories at Burnley, Bristol City and Brentford plus a Capital One Cup success at Portsmouth.

Norwood believes that improving their home record will be key from here on.

“The fans have been unbelievable,” he stressed. “They turn up in their numbers and are very loud, even at Burnley recently which is a long way to travel, as I know myself as I come from there.

“We want to get more wins at home. We've had those four away wins, but we want to get more at the Madejski Stadium because your home form is massively important to achieving anything.”

Stephen Quinn and Vydra are major injury doubts for Saturday's clash against Middlesbrough, but striker Orlando Sa is available having served a three-match ban following his red card against Derby County.