`We've got enough,' insists McAnuff

Anthony Smith • Published 3 Feb 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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JOBI McAnuff has described February as a "massive month" for Reading in their bid to avoid relegation.

Royals are 22nd in the Championship table and three points from safety despite last Saturday's 1-0 home victory against Barnsley, who bounced back by trouncing Preston 4-1 on Tuesday night.

But McAnuff is confident that gap can easily be bridged over the coming weeks.

Brian McDermott's side face a trip to Doncaster Rovers this Saturday (5.20pm ko, live Sky Sports) then host fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle at the Madejski Stadium in a genuine six-pointer next Tuesday night (8pm ko).

In addition they have two further home games against Newcastle United and Sheffield Wednesday plus two more away fixtures at Crystal Palace and Blackpool, as well as an FA Cup fifth round tie against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday week.

And McAnuff warned: "It's a massive month and we've got to be getting points from these games.

"We play a lot of teams in and around us in the table and if we're serious about getting out of the mess we're in we've got to take points like we did against Barnsley.

"We're still confident because generally we've been playing well. But we need to take more of our chances and if we can keep it nice and tight I'm sure we will pull away from trouble.

"We've got the games coming up and we're confident we can get the results."

And he argued: "We know we're more than good enough to be in much better situation in the league.

"But for the lack of a cutting edge up front and not keeping clean sheets at vital times we'd be a lot further up the table.

"However, we know we've got plenty in the changing room to get us out of this situation. It's just a matter of doing it rather than talking about it."

But Reading's fight for survival is nothing new to McAnuff.

"I've been in this position before," he admitted. "I was at Wimbledon when we were in a right mess. We were in administration and had to sell a lot of our best players which was tough.

"At Cardiff I had a little flirt with relegation but we got out of that and the same thing happened at Watford last season.

"It's been almost always play-offs or relegation battles for me with not much inbetween."

Reading's victory against Barnsley was their first Championship win since December 5 in McDermott's first game as permanent manager.

Shane Long netted the crucial goal on 29 minutes and McAnuff stated: "Another goal would have been more comfortable but the win was the main thing.

"When I hit the post I was worried it may come back to haunt us. We were so on top but at 1-0 anything can happen.

"But I thought we defended really well. The back four have been very good the last four games barring Sheffield United but that was everyone's fault.

"We're looking much more solid and hard to beat now and that has to be our base line really."

Meanwhile, McAnuff believes the appointment of McDermott will bring some much needed stability for the run in.

"I was pleased to hear the announcement just from the point of view everyone knows what's happening now," he said.

"Now we can really bed down and have a good crack from here until the end of the season because we know who the gaffer is going to be.

"I'm really pleased for Brian. The cup games have been great and we've had some tough away games but at this moment in time I think we need that stability.

"Brian is already putting his ideas across and I think if someone else had come it would have taken too long for them to bed in, so all the boys are happy.

"He made it very clear from day one that he wanted the job. That was good for us, there were no mixed messages. He was the gaffer and that was the end of the story.

"So for us it's continuation. It's nice to know it's all official and we can all crack on together now."

NICHOLAS Bignall made it four goals in two Reading reserves games by netting in a 3-0 victory over QPR.

It capped a memorable week for the 20-year-old striker who also made his Championship debut as a substitute in Saturday's 1-0 home win against Barnsley.

Further goals from youngsters Alex Pearce and Hal Robson-Kanu completed the win against QPR in a private friendly at Hogwood Park.

In addition, Royals schemer Marek Matejovsky made his injury comeback while recent Blackburn loan signing Zurab Khizanishvili played 90 minutes.

And full-back Julian Kelly also returned from a four-month lay-off with a serious shoulder injury.

Reading: Hamer, Kelly, Cummings, Pearce (c), Hector (Taylor 15), Tabb, Henry, Khizanishvili, Matejovsky (Davies, 45), Bignall (Bell-Baggie, 70), Robson-Kanu. Sub unused: Mills.

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