Published: Friday, 27th November, 2009 11:00am

Rodgers warns players of Derby danger

by Anthony Smith

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ROYALS boss Brendan Rodgers is determined to keep his players' feet on the ground ahead of Saturday's trip to Derby County (3pm ko).

Reading beat Blackpool 2-1 last weekend to secure their first home win in the league since January.

And after a poor start to the season, Rodgers' men are now unbeaten in three games, playing with confidence and finally scoring goals.

The victory against the Tangerines also lifted Royals out of the bottom three and level with Derby on 17 points.

However, Rodgers warned: "It was a good day but listen, we don't want to get carried away because we've won a home game.

"But it was obviously an important win for us because it was against a very good Blackpool side.

"The players carried that burden for 10 or 11 months but now it's been put to bed. But we must now build on it."

And he insisted: "I feel confident going into every game, particularly away from home because we have a style that can hurt teams.

"Our passing can frustrate teams because we keep the ball and our pace can hurt teams in behind."

Reading have already won three times on the road at Barnsley, Preston and most recently Coventy City.

The Rams lost 1-0 at in-form Swansea City last week but Nigel Clough's side are strong at Pride Park winning three of their last five games.

"Nigel was a terrific player and he's gone into a massive job at Derby who were in the Premier League not long ago," stated Rodgers.

"From my own experiences of being at Reading I know how difficult job he's got there.

"They had a number of managers in a short period of time and there's a big squad there.

"They've picked up most of their points at home. I went to Swansea to see them and probably by their own admission Derby didn't play as well as they could.

"Their motivation will be to win at home. It's a great stadium with a big support of 30,000 and it should be a very good game."

Royals has won on their last two visits to Pride Park, a 2-0 victory last season and a 4-0 thrashing on the final day of the 2007/08 campaign which failed to save them from relegation from the Premier League.

There was also good new for Rodgers with Simon Church, Shane Long and Jimmy Kebe all available for tomorrow's game.

"We had a practice game on Wednesday and Shane had 90 minutes," he explained.

"Hopefully he's over his injury now. He's worked very hard to get his condition right and he's fighting fit.

"Churchy trained on Thursday and looked bright. But the couple of days he had off with his pelvis wouldn't have done him any harm.

"He's played a lot of international games and travelled. Then he played against Blackpool so he could do with a rest.

"Jimmy had a dead leg which can be hard to shake off but he's trained and looked very good.

"It's good to have them all back fit and it's nice for the players because they can see the team is winning. So if you're outside that group you don't have an excuse.

"You've got to bide your time and take your chance when it comes. That's what I've been searching for here."

Meanwhile, Rodgers tried to bring in a couple of players before this week's deadline for loan signings, but failed twice.

However, Reading hope to bring in Iceland striker Gunnar Thorvaldsson in January and are speaking with his Danish club Esbjerg FB.

Rodgers is also being linked with Doncaster Rovers playmaker Brian Stock.

"We looked at one or two possibilities but it's close to the January window and December is a busy month when teams have seven or eight games," he argued.

"Most clubs want to keep what they've got and I only want to bring in the right type of player.

"If I've got to wait for that then fine. The team's doing well, I have enough striking options and I don't want to disrupt things during a good moment."

DAVE MOONEY has extended his loan spell with Charlton Athletic until December 28 after two goals in six games for Phil Parkinson's side.

Midfielder Oliver Bozanic, 20, has gone to Kevin Dillon's Aldershot Town on loan until the New Year.

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