Royals aces reminded of a few home truths

Anthony Smith • Published 20 Aug 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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IT IS not as though the message hadn’t got through to the Reading players.

For months and months the importance of winning home games had been drummed into their heads by the coaching staff.

After all, it was the team’s sensational run at the Madejski Stadium over the second half of last season which pulled the Royals out of the relegation mire.

Brian McDermott’s men were marooned in the bottom three in January until nine wins and a draw from their remaining 11 Championship games turned their season around.

The only dropped points came in a 1-1 draw with promoted West Brom and a 2-1 defeat by champions-in-waiting Newcastle United.

It was promotion winning form, and most expected it to carry over into the new campaign despite a few changes in personnel.

So losing 2-1 to relegation favourites Scunthorpe on the opening day was a severe jolt to the system, a setback no-one had foreseen. And it shocked the Royals to the core.

But nearly two weeks on and the scars are healing thanks to an extra-time victory at Torquay United in the Carling Cup and last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Portsmouth in the league.

Now with Nottingham Forest due to visit tomorrow, assistant manager Nigel Gibbs vows to bring that consistency back to the Mad Stad.

“It’s a really, really open division,” argued Gibbs. “There are no easy games but I’m sure for fans at every club it will be an exciting season.

“There were a few upsets on the opening weekend and it was the same the following week. It’s very hard to predict results and it’s just a case of being consistent which I suppose is the key in any season really.

“You win your home games and get points on the road and I think any team which does that will be up there.

“We were consistent over the second half of last season.

“We’ve kept drumming that into the players and told them to keep their performances high and the results will come. Obviously that’s what we’re trying to do this season again.”

At least Reading’s win at Torquay and draw at Fratton Park, where Jimmy Kebe netted an 87th minute equaliser, will have boosted morale following the Scunny blow.

But Saturday’s clash between two sides searching for their first victory in the league could be a tense affair.

Billy Davies’ Forest are among the promotion favourites but have started with a 1-0 loss at Burnley and 1-1 home draw with Leeds United. They were also dumped out of the Carling Cup by Bradford in extra time.

“It will be a very tough game,” warned Gibbs. “Forest will be up there, they spent a lot of money the previous summer and their squad is very good.

“They’ve always been a hard working side under Billy Davies and they have quality and pace. It will be tough but we’re looking forward to it.”

Reading and Forest drew 0-0 in the corresponding fixture on the opening day of last season when Brendan Rodgers was in charge, though Davies’ side won the clash at City Ground 2-1.

Royals could be boosted by the return of Matt Mills this weekend, though Gibbs insists the squad can cope with injuries.

“We’ve been patching things up and fair play to the lads who have come in, they’ve been superb,” he declared.

“Brynjar Gunarsson played two games at centre-half and has been excellent so it’s important to have a strong squad.

“If we can get our strongest XI we will be happy, if not we will still be comfortable going into the game.

“We need to build on the Portsmouth performance last week. We had a lot of possession but the hardest part is putting the ball in the net and we need to keep working on that.”

Meanwhile, Gibbs is anticipating a titanic battle between winger Kebe and former Reading loan defender Ryan Bertrand, who has joined Forest for the season from Chelsea.

“Jimmy is always an outlet and a threat for us,” said Gibbs. “And we all know about Ryan because he did very well for us. It will be an interesting battle between him and Jimmy Kebe.

“They played a lot against each other in training games and we’ll see what happens. But it’s not only about them, it’s about the team but we will welcome Ryan back.”

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