Coppell: Reading are still Rookies

Reading rushed into 6th place after beating Man City 2-0 away on Saturday.

The Royals have proved on more the one occasion this season that they are more then up to the challenge of top flight football, with a solid back four, a firm midfield and strikers who have got over 30 goals between them in all competitions.

But Steve Coppell will still not get carried away.

Last season the Reading boss would not concede that his team were promoted even when they sat 16points clear at the top of the league with only 3 more points (if results did not go their way) to guarantee Premiership football.

Now pretty much one year on from then, and Steve remains the lead weight that keeps his players feet on the ground; with Reading flying high the media are once more talking about the new boys being in with a shot at Europe but Coppell insists:

“I am not really worried about artificial points targets being attained, we have to try to finish as high as we can and forget about anything else.”

But you`d think with Man Utd and Chelsea done with for the season and the likes of Watford, and Fulham at home, Reading could still take a fair few more points this season; especially if they are consistent on their travels to the likes of Boro and Charlton.

But Coppell refuses to get carried away, the Reading rule is to only think about the next match and nothing more and as far as Steve is concerned Reading are still Rookies in a league of pros:

‘We are what we are – a team very much with the L-plates on. Sometimes you can find in situations like these, you do not know who you are playing against, so you are not afraid of it.’

And it seems Coppell is rubbing off on his players; when right wing maestro Glen Little was asked about Reading`s playing in Europe he replied:

“Well I think we have the holiday to Spain booked! If we go out of the FA Cup then we might get away on a break!’