Reading FC: Paul Clement keen to avoid 'emotional rollercoaster' of watching Barnsley's game in hand at Nottingham Forest

The Tykes will climb above Bolton and out of the Championship relegation places if they win their game in hand at the City Ground.

It would also reduce the gap between Royals in 19th and the drop zone from five points to three with two fixtures remaining.

Clement’s men host Ipswich Town in their last home game this Saturday (3pm) then end with a daunting trip to Neil Warnock’s promotion-chasing Cardiff City on the final day of the campaign.

But Royals’ boss says there is nothing he can do to affect the Barnsley result tonight.

He explained: “I’m not sure the game is on the television. If it is, maybe I’d watch it, but if it’s not I’ll tune in at the end of the game.

“There’s no point going through another emotional rollercoaster looking at other results when you don’t know what’s going on, it’s best to leave it to the end.

“My focus and the players’ focus is going to be on Ipswich this Saturday.

“We’ve got recovery days then four training sessions before the game. We’ve got to be really well prepared for it.”

Reading could have all but guaranteed their Championship status for next season with a victory at Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday.

However, Clement’s men crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Hillsborough and ended the match with 10 men after Tyler Blackett was sent off for violent conduct.

Tyler Blackett walks back to the Royals dressing room after being sent off at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

And the Reading manager admitted it was a huge opportunity missed.

“Barnsley have a game in hand, but the Bolton and Birmingham games were interesting on Saturday,” he continued. “If one or both had lost and we had won, we’d pretty much be safe with our goal difference.

“Games are running out and we’re going to need a win from the last two matches just to make sure everything is fine and we are not relying on other results.

“When you do that you are playing a really dangerous game.”