MANAGER Jose Gomes believes victory for Reading FC at Hull City on Saturday would put them on the brink of Championship safety.

The 2-1 home win against play-off chasing Preston North End on Saturday capped an excellent March which saw Royals claim 10 points from five games, a run of form which has seen them pull four points clear of the relegation zone.

And while Gomes accepts it will be a tough task against a Tigers side who have won seven and drawn three of their last 10 games at the KCOM Stadium, he is heartened by Royals' recent performances.

He commented: "I hope Saturday's game will be good for us.

"We want to resolve our survival as soon as possible and I really believe if we do well on Saturday, we will be near to safety.

"They are a strong team at home, have good players and it will be a tough game. We need to stop them at their strong points and then exploit their weaknesses.

"The way we've been playing gives us confidence we can do it, but we can only achieve it with maximum commitment.

He continued: "We are a stronger team than we were, but the most important thing is getting the points.

"The only way to get good results is to put all of our focus into the next challenge.

"Hull are a strong team with a very good attack, 21 goals from their wing (Jarrod Bowen) is amazing. The numbers speak for themselves."

Reading will be without skipper Paul McShane, the Irish international having injured his achilles, but are hopeful Mo Barrow and John Swift will be fit despite missing training during the week.

Key Portuguese striker Nelson Oliveira is also due to travel having recovered quicker than expected from the hamstring injury he suffered at basement side Ipswich Town at the start of March.

And Gomes commented: "Nelson worked very well during the week and hopefully he will be fit for Saturday. He's been an example considering the serious injuries he's had. He's a very positive person."

With Oliveira missing, the goal-scoring burden has fallen on Yakou Meite and Mo Barrow – the duo having netted five of Royals' last six goals – but Gomes pointed out: "It's about teamwork, although I'm very happy with them.

"They've been very important, like all the other players. Everyone is important."