Reading's Steve Coppell has revealed hardly a moment goes by when he is not thinking about how to avoid relegation. The Royals are one of a cluster of clubs who know they must put more points on the board to secure their top-flight status and host another, Birmingham City, on Saturday.

And Coppell, whose side took a step back by losing at Liverpool last week following victories over Middlesbrough and Manchester City, revealed he was unable to switch off from the task in hand.

He said: "There are seven or eight teams involved and we are all uncomfortable. It dominates your every thought and that applies to managers, coaches and players.


"You can be watching TV or a film or playing golf and in the back of your mind you will be thinking 'we have eight games to go'. It is hugely significant in a club's history. It is meaningful."