Gibbs: Reading FC determined to avoid home Blues

James Walker-Roberts • Published 9 Feb 2012 17:30 0 Comments

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READING assistant manager Nigel Gibbs insists his side are fully focused on avoiding the indignity of losing to the Championship's basement side at home for the second successive season.

Royals were still pushing for an automatic promotion place - and on a 13-match unbeaten run - when rock-bottom Sheffield United visited the Madejski last April.

And the game was going the way of the form book when Noel Hunt and then Hal Robson-Kanu fired Royals into a 2-0 lead with less than 20 minutes gone.

But former Royal Darius Henderson netted either side of a fine Lee Williamson finish to ensure the Blades nicked all three points and all but ended Reading's hopes of finishing in the top two.

Less than a year later, Royals host a Coventry City side rooted to the foot of the Championship with no away wins to their name, and Gibbs is determined to ensure it stays that way.

"Sheffield United came here and beat us last year so it's really important that we take this game as seriously as any other," he said.

"League position in the Championship can be a bit false because anyone can beat anyone, so we won't be preparing any different because it's Coventry. We'll focus on what we have to do and get ourselves really ready for this game."

While the Sky Blues were in action against fellow strugglers Ipswich Town last Saturday - losing 3-2 after shipping a last-gasp goal - Royals had a weekend off after their clash with Doncaster Rovers was postponed.

And although Gibbs said there was some frustration that the game was cancelled, the free matchday may prove beneficial to Reading in both the long-term and short-term, with three games coming up in the space of six days starting with Coventry.

"It's going to be a good week," said Gibbs. "We have done well when there are a few games in a short period of time and we're looking forward to it.

"We were disappointed to miss out against Doncaster but you move on and get ready for Coventry and as soon as that's finished you get ready for Derby and Burnley, so that's how it works for us.

"It's been a normal build-up to Saturday, once the game was off we got ourselves back home and have been preparing normally for the game against Coventry."

Royals preparations have been boosted by the return to fitness of Jimmy Kebe, who was a doubt for the meeting at Doncaster last weekend.

In addition, the management have had a fortnight to work with the new January signings in training and Gibbs says they are all eager to get back on to the pitch.

"Competition for places is very healthy which is the most important thing," he commented.

"You can see the lads are really looking forward to Saturday and raring to go for the rest of the season."

Reading also travel to Derby County on Tuesday night (7.45pm ko).

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 08 Feb 12

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