CHRIS Gunter revealed Reading FC are "ahead of where they should be" following their superb start to the Championship season, writes Courtney Friday.

The Royals sit in third spot in the table despite a raft of changes in the summer which including appointing manager Jaap Stam and a new backroom team as well as bringing in 13 new players.

And with the additions came a new philosophy, with Stam preferring more possession-based football than anything Royals' fans were used to.

It made for a nervous start to the campaign, but following a run of nine-wins in their last 11 games, Stam's men find themselves in a promising position in the promotion race.

While Gunter, who has experienced highs and lows at his time with the club, admitted the squad are delighted with their performances in the league, he insisted there is no pressure to secure a play-off spot.

"At the moment we are third in the league and going well so we are obviously doing something (right)," asserted the full-back, who missed the majority of pre-season training through international duty with Wales.

"We never once set any target at the start of the season, we never said we want to be going for a top six finish or anything like that.

"It's important that we keep going the way that we are going and keep seeing how we are doing.

"The aim for us is to perform in every game."

Reading found themselves trailing Bristol City 2-0 at Ashton Gate on Monday, only to rally in the second-half and claim a sensational 3-2 victory.

That gave Royals a six-point cushion over seventh-placed Derby County, and they also have a game in hand after last Friday's Fulham clash was called off at half-time due to fog.

"I don't want to say we want to finish in the top two or the playoffs," continued Gunter, 27.

"Of course for every team in the league the aim is to get promoted.

"There are no huge expectations, we are potentially ahead of where we should be after the changes at the club.

"It's going well and it's important to capitalise and keep that good feeling because there will be a time when we lose a game."

Royals face a tough trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Saturday (12.30pm ko) before hosting Queens Park Rangers in the league at Madejski Stadium next Thursday.