PAUL Clement admits there is no quick fix to the deep problems running through Reading FC.

Royals are one point off the bottom of the Championship table after last weekend’s 4-1 bashing at West Bromwich Albion – their seventh and heaviest defeat in 12 league games this season.

Rumours of disharmony behind the scenes are also rife following the recent shock departure of sporting director Brian Tevreden along with a number of long-serving backroom staff.

But with pressure mounting on Clement to turn things around, Royals’ boss warns it may take longer than people think.

“In terms of points and performances it’s not where we expected to be,” he confessed as Reading head into a fortnight’s international break.

“We picked up two points in the first batch of games before the international break and in this second run we’ve picked up seven points.

“It is better, but it’s still not good enough.

“Now we look to improve again after this next international break.”

Reading Chronicle:

Reading midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi is chased by West Brom's Gareth Barry. Pictures by Jasonpix.

Clement replaced Jaap Stam in March after a run of one win in 19 games as Royals evaded relegation to League One on the final day of last season.

Despite a busy summer in the transfer market, Clement’s men now find themselves in a similar hole after the first dozen games of this campaign.

Royals’ boss stressed: “I don’t think there will be an overnight remedy for our performances and results.

“It will be step-by-step and in those terms there has been an improvement.

“But it’s still not what we want it to be, so we have to try and do that in the next run of games.”

Clement came under more fire this week after suggesting Reading are ‘only seven points off mid-table,’ even though they lie in 21st place.

Royals have won just four out of 20 Championship games under the former Derby County and Swansea City boss.

Last week was one to forget after a home defeat to fellow strugglers QPR and painful loss at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

However, Clement suggests there were positives to take, saying: “The results in the last two games haven’t been good.

“The performance against QPR was poor but, even though West Brom was our biggest margin of defeat this season, the performance wasn’t the worst of the season.

“The first half was maybe the best we’ve played, but you have to do it over 90 minutes.”

Reading Chronicle:

Leandro Bacuna fires Reading into the lead at the Hawthorns, but it was downhill from there for Paul Clement's men.

Clement confirmed strikers Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Sam Baldock should both be fit for the vital clash Millwall on October 20, – the side immediately above them in the table – after both missed the trip to the Hawthorns through injury.

Defender John O’Shea should also be available after recovering from a knock he picked up in training. Clement could also recall fit-again goalkeeper Vito Mannone after Sam Walker’s suspect display at West Brom.

“I’m not going to criticise players through the media, I speak honestly to them privately,” explained Clement.

“But Sam will look at the first goal and say it’s a ball he should do better with. I don’t know if he can catch it, but he’s got to have better contact on it.

“That was just one example – we can talk about all the goals. But the game has gone now and we have to draw on the positives.”