Published: Wednesday, 16th September, 2009 9:00am

Rodgers: `Fedders can't rescue us again'

by Anthony Smith

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BRENDAN Rodgers hopes Reading won't have to rely on an injury-time equaliser from goalkeeper Adam Federici to rescue a point against Cardiff City tonight (8pm ko).

Aussie international Federici broke Bluebirds' hearts by famously scoring deep into injury to secure a nailbiting 1-1 draw at the Madejski Stadium on Boxing Day last year.

But Rodgers, who was manager of Watford at the time, declared: "Hopefully we won't have to rely on our goalkeeper to score again. But I'm aware that Cardiff played well in that game.

"These M4 derbies as they are known always brings really good games and I hope this will be the same.

"We're just chomping at the bit to get going. We're simmering at the moment. We're a work in progress waiting to click into place.

"The fans are staying with us which is very important and I'm sure they will continue to do that. We will fight to get that win which would be great for the supporters as well as the players."

Royals are desperate to reverse their horrendous run at the Madejski Stadium where they have not won in the league since beating Wolves in January.

They have lost seven games out of 12 games and have failed to score in nine of them, the latest being Saturday's 0-0 stalemate with Doncaster Rovers.

Though most of that winless streak came during Steve Coppell's reign, Rodgers knows that he must find a way of turning it around if they are achieve something this season.

If not, it could be a campaign of struggle for the Royals who were once almost unbeatable in front of their own fans.

"The supporters have been really loyal, they have given everything and it's a long time without a win here," he admitted. "We must take the responsibility to win here.

"It's a different group of players, but it was a big reason for not going up last year. We've kept clean sheets against Nottingham Forest and Doncaster and not scored, and for a big part of the Sheffield United game we did well.

"Teams come here and respect you as a group, they sit deeper and it's harder to create. Goals are hard to come by in this league and for some teams it's easier to play away from home."

Royals have scored just once in three home games so far and Rodgers may look to bolster his attack by handing Grzegorz Rasiak his first start up front with Noel Hunt in a 4-4-2 formation.

Rasiak, with his extra height, offered Reading's biggest threat against Doncaster when he came off the bench and Rodgers revealed: "He's very close to starting. He gives us another point of attack. I travelled to Cardiff for their game with Newcastle game and they're a big team.

"Grzegorz has settled in well. He's made an impact when he has come on and he's certainly one we need to consider, especially for our home games.

"I feel we need to have more players on the field who can threaten the goal and he is one of those.

"But it's never easy at home because teams come and defend and they obviously know our style and how we are looking to play.

"We had 14 shots against Doncaster and six on target. The average for this league is only four to five shots so sometimes people are mistaken because they think if balls aren't flying across the goal you aren't creating opportunities.

"But some of our general play is very good and it will only get better in that attacking third."

Brynjar Gunnarsson and Darren O'Dea have recovered from knocks and should be available while there could also be a place in the squad for captain Ivar Ingimarsson after a nine-month injury lay-off.

Cardiff, meanwhile, are missing striker Ross McCormack but Jay Bothroyd looks set to return to boost their own firepower.

Dave Jones' outfit got their season off to a blistering start but have lost their last two games to Doncaster and Newcastle United.

Rodgers added: "Bothroyd has come back and he is a big reference point for them, then there's also Michael Chopra up front.

"They're direct in the build up and I think Cardiff have two front guys who can cause a problem. Dave is a terrific manager and he has done well there. They will be a threat."

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