A HUGE improvement was needed on our performance at Brighton and, while we didn’t accumulate the full six points from this week’s two games, four points was pleasing.

The win against Wolves was difficult but more-or-less expected. The draw against Newcastle on Tuesday night was a point gained rather than two points dropped.

Under Rafa Benitez, Newcastle have taken to the Championship like a duck to water – especially away from home.

They have taken more points than any other team on their travels – 10 more than nearest challengers Brighton.

They came up against a Reading team with the second highest points tally for home games this season, having lost just two of our 19 fixtures at Madejski Stadium.

Newcastle are unbeaten in the league since January 2 so to hold them at our place was an achievement.

Jaap Stam went with a 4-2-3-1 formation, as he did in the 2-1 win over Wolves on Saturday.

The statistics from Tuesday’s game spoke volumes as Royals completed 490 passes compared with Newcastle’s 141 with an accuracy of 82 per cent to 55 per cent.

Despite this, Ali Al-Habsi was the busier of the two keepers, having to deal with five shots on target compared with Karl Darlow’s one.

Reading Chronicle:

Ali Al-Habsi punches away a dangerous cross during Reading's 0-0 draw with Newcastle United.

Newcastle are a cut above in terms of quality and consistency and deserve to be in the Premier League next season.

We remain fifth and 10 points off of automatic promotion. The focus now must now be on consolidating our play-off position.

A win against Preston on Saturday will almost definitely be as a result of high confidence after the last two results this week.

The trip to Sheffield Wednesday next Friday and the home fixture against fourth-placed Leeds United on April 1 are ones to watch.

But if we can keep picking up results – as we have this week – we should be in a position where we can coast to the end of the season and still finish in the play-offs.

Things are looking up.