Royals back jumping for joy

12:51pm Thu 6th Nov 08:: written by Sport

Striker Kevin Doyle described Reading’s 4-1 win at Bristol City on Saturday as a ‘top performance’.

The Royals were completely dominant from start to finish, and put the Robins to the sword in emphatic style.

Irish international Doyle said: “We could have scored this many at Burnley, and the same at Preston as well - this time we were so concentrated, so disappointed after Tuesday and we put in a top performance.

“It was important to get that first goal, especially after midweek. Once the first goes in I always think we will go on a roll and that made it easier, we played some good stuff.

“It was an important psychological win for us, it keeps us in touch. They’re a good team and I think they’d have gone level with us if they had won. They’ve done well this season and had a good crowd.”

Boss Steve Coppell was equally delighted with the performance: “We’ve put pressure on ourselves away from home.

“I wanted us to have a performance. I always think that the performances will ultimately get the result, even though it hasn’t worked that way recently.

“And today I thought we were effective. We played well, we looked really incisive up front and everyone out there played their part defensively.

“Today was a real test for us. We’d been in a comfortable position away from home before this season and the reports we’ve had on Bristol told us that they would be a stronger outfit in the second half.”

It’s been a mixed season for Reading on the road this season but Coppell is hoping that his side have now turned the corner.

“We’ve gone highs and lows in terms of results away from home. We beat Wolves and now Bristol - two great results,” he said.

“But I’ve felt we should have had another four points at least away from home - in midweek against Burnley we were far the better team and came away with nothing.

“You work hard butthe rewards don’t always come in equal installments. We’ve had two great results away from home and we’ve had indifferent results at the same time. We now need a greater consistency.”