Reading boss Paul Ince joked that someone is trying to relegate the club after yet more fixtures were moved for television.

Royals supporters now have no Boxing Day clash to look forward to, with their match with Swansea City pushed back by a day for Sky Sports.

Six of the club's first 18 matches have been moved for television selection, helping to create a pile-up of fixtures.

Added to the World Cup woes, Reading face four games in 11 days before the break later this month.

Already, the club have had to deal with transfer embargoes and injury crises in the first five months of the campaign.

Reading Chronicle:

Speaking after the sides 0-0 draw with Luton Town, he asked whop was creating these issues.

"Who’s deciding this?" he remarked. "Is it the EFL or Sky? We accept that we get punished for breaching the rules two years ago and the embargo. We accept we have a mix and match team, but surely the amount of games they’re giving us- someone, somewhere down the line is trying to make sure we go down. it’s a nice thing to have as it gives us a fighting spirit. I’ve never seen as many teams play as many games on Sky, why are they showing Reading Preston? No disrespect but there’s better games on the Saturday to show."

Discussing fixutre pile-up in general, he reminded everyone that footballers are not robots.

Reading Chronicle:

"I think it’s madness. You’re asking the same players to go to the well. When you’re asking the same players to play four games in 11 days it is unfair. They’re not robots, they’re human beings. I believe if we play the way we can, we can go anywhere and put in a good performance. They’re games we can win so I’m not worries, but I’m worried about injuries. Tom Holmes has a calf soreness at the moment, he did well to last the game, so they’re piling up."