Coppell: We must hold our nerve April 24 2008
Reading manager Steve Coppell has challenged his players to hold their nerve as the fight to stay in the Premier League enters its final phase.
The Royals travel to Wigan on Saturday desperate to keep ahead of third-bottom Birmingham, who are a single point behind and entertain Liverpool.
A home game with Spurs and a trip to already-relegated Derby will complete Reading's second top-flight campaign and the Royal boss was adamant his players were good enough to earn a third.
"We are capable of getting points from all the games but it is no good talking about it - sooner or later we have to deliver something," Coppell said.
"And the closer it gets to the end the closer it becomes a do or die scenario.
"We are still at this moment in control and I would like to think we could retain that and take advantage of the situation rather than be beholden to anybody else.
"There is no point looking down at the ground and thinking 'woe is me'. We have really got to attack these games from a performance point of view and mentally it is important we look forward to these games rather than whimper into them."
Coppell made six changes for last week's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, which saw him drop England international Nicky Shorey and also discard Stephen Hunt, who is a front-runner for the club's player of the year award.
That day's 4-1-4-1 formation appeared to be a damage limitation exercise and the Royals are expected to employ a more attacking formation at the JJB Stadium even though the home side will be kicking off in search a victory that would secure their own safety.
"I know what my team is going to be. There will be again significant changes and I anticipate more to come," Coppell explained.
"In many ways I would love to have one team that has done particularly well this year and stick with it but I haven't so I am going to tinker all the way through.
"Last week was to a certain extent deferential. This week is different."
Coppell also revealed he had been examining his players' performances in training more closely this week.
He added: "You can't fake training. You can say the right things but in training you can see how confident someone is - whether they are attempting things or going safety first.
"I can't let any favouritism I may have to colour or bias my team. I have to be objective and say this is the best eleven for this particular job.
"There has to be an element of acceptance from the players but with three games to go everyone is committed to get out of our situation.
"Those who are not selected will be disappointed but they all realise that they could come in next week.
"Arsenal, Wigan, Tottenham at home and then Derby away are four totally different kinds of games.
"I would love to have a team that has won four on the bounce and couldn't care about anyone else but at the moment it is horses for courses and the players understand that."