Coppell's side have seven games left to clinch promotion to the top flight

Reading manager Steve Coppell has expressed his relief that his side now have a weekend off before the final run-in to the end of the season.

Reading picked up just nine points from a possible 21 in as many days.

Coppell told BBC Radio Berkshire: "That was our seventh game in 21 days. Up and down motorways, getting back at three or four in the morning takes its toll.

"It's nice to have a break, everyone in the division can now set themselves up for the closing month of the season."

Reading are currently third in the Championship, four points behind Birmingham in the automatic promotion spot with a game in hand and Coppell knows that his side can still decide their own destiny.

"Obviously we are one of the teams with a lot to play for and a lot to look forward to. We have an opportunity and it's down to us to show our nerve and our ability and get something from it," he said.

"The games now are very important now, I think all the teams are feeling it."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version