JAY Tabb believes Reading's comprehensive 2-0 victory over Bristol City was one of the team's best displays of the season.

Tabb is enjoying his best run in the Royals' side since Steve Coppell signed him from Coventry City in January 2009 for £300,000.

The 26-year-old has started the last five matches under Brian McDermott in his preferred central midfield slot and he was outstanding once again as Royals brushed City aside to clinch their seventh win in eight league games.

And while the scoreline may not have reflected Reading's dominance - particularly in the first-half - it underlined the team's rapid progress under McDermott and rise up the table.

Royals now have 44 points, are six points above the relegation zone and within sight of the play-offs should they win their games in hand.

Tabb stated: "Saturday was arguably one of our best performances of the season, we did a very professional job.

"We didn't panic or sit back, we were right on it.

"You cant score four or five at home every game so 2-0 was a good result. Bristol City know what they're doing in this league and have a very good manager.

"I thought they may have come at us a bit stronger in the first 15 minutes and we were a bit shocked to be 2-0 up.

"But I thought we did a good job."

Gylfi Sigurdsson put Royals ahead with a towering header in the 12th minute from a Jobi Mcanuff cross.

And 10 minutes later the Icelandic youngster grabbed his second of the game and 12th of the season from the penalty spot after he had been tripped by Robins' Paul Hartley.

Tabb, though, laughed off suggestions of a late surge up the table to grab a top-six spot.

"I'm aware of the play-offs," he admitted. "We're getting closer but first and foremost we've got to make sure we're safe.

"The way we do that is to take each game as it comes.

"As a squad we're concentrating on performances and when you walk off the pitch you know when you've played well, it's a great feeling.

"Everyone who comes into the team knows their job at the moment. Andy Griffin had an injury so Brynjar Gunnarsson came in at right back and was magnificent.

"All the lads love that winning feeling. It's so nice to come in after a win knowing you have played well.

"We prepare well for every game, we look fit and strong and we're finishing games strongly which is a good sign."

Royals can make it eight wins in nine Championship games tomorrow night when they host Neil Warnock's vastly-improved QPR at the Madejski Stadium (8pm).

Royals suffered a 4-1 drubbing at Loftus Road in October when supporters turned on former boss Brendan Rodgers.

McDermott's men are now level on 44 points with Rangers with a game in hand.

"It's massive if you look at the table," added Tabb. "It's a huge game and QPR is always a nice scalp to take as well because they are a good side.

"They have a very talented squad and with Neil Warnock as manager they look well organised now and it's going to be a tough one."

Meanwhile, Tabb is shunning this week's Cheltenham Festival despite his love of horse racing.

He and fellow Coventry team-mate Ben Turner are part owners of racehorse Bobby Gee.

But he explained: "I'm not going to Cheltenham this year. We've got Wednesday off after the QPR game but we've had so many matches recently that going to Cheltenham is too long a day.

"You have to get the train there, you can't help but have a few Guinnesses and by the time you've got back it's tough with training the next day.

"So I think I'll stay at home and watch the tv."

Reading (4-4-1-1): Federici - Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson, Mills, Bertrand - McAnuff, Tabb, Howard, Kebe - Sigurdsson - Long (Church 88). Subs not used: Hamer, Robson-Kanu, Henry, Matejovsky, Khizanishvili, Rasiak.

Bristol City (4-3-3): Gerken - Orr, Carey, Nyatanga, Fontaine (McAllister 72) - Hartley, Johnson, Skuse - Maynard (Akinde 46), Campbell-Ryce, Iwelumo (Haynes 46). Subs not used: Elliott, Clarkson, Sproule, Henderson.

Referee: Paul Taylor (Herts).

Attendance: 17,900 (Bristol City 1,993).