We won't underestimate the opposition - Murty

Despite being heavily tipped as favourites to win the Championship, Reading captain Graeme Murty is keen to ensure his side do not underestimate how difficult life is in England’s second tier of football.

As the new season kicked off, Murty spoke of his expectations for the year ahead and the comings and goings at the Madejski Stadium during the summer.

“I want a good season and a good level of intensity,” declared the right back. “I think if we get those things right we can have a good season. It’s alright putting targets on it but people are going to have a go at us if we don’t match it, but I think we should be up there challenging for promotion.

“When you look at the competition last year, I think any team’s capable of beating any team on a given day, so you have to be 100 per cent.

“There are no off days in the Championship - you have to be flying all the way through it. We’ve got to make sure that the squad is fit, not just the 11 that start. I think it is hard [in the Championship] and we’ve got to make sure that we’re all together and pushing for the same goal.

“When looking in the eyes of the other guys in the changing room you’ve got to be all pulling in the right direction.”

After life playing the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, the Royals could be forgiven for falling into the trap of believing they are better than the teams around them in the Championship. But Murty is certain that the management will not let that happen, especially manager Steve Coppell.

“No [we won’t fall into that trap] because we’ve got some of the most astute technical teams I’ve ever seen together,” said Murty.

“We’ve got the gaffer Steve Coppell, Kevin Dillon, Roy Downs - all there to make sure that if anyone takes anything too lightly then they’ll come down like a ton of bricks.

“We’re approaching it as if every game we’re playing Manchester United.”

With summer departures of Dave Kitson, Glen Little and Nicky Shorey, Reading’s squad has been weakened somewhat, yet Murty believes it has only helped to strengthen the bonds in the changing room.

“Obviously we’ve lost some good players,’ admitted the skipper. “Glen Little going and the two transfers that we’ve had, but we’re a little bit tighter and a little more together. We keep talking about the need for unity and as long as we are together then we’ll be okay.

“I’m relieved we kept quality players like Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt and James Harper in our side. So you’ve got to be happy. The lads have gone and good luck to them. But it’s about what we do now.

“The team is the main thing, it’s not about egos. It’s about getting us back where we belong.”

The decision of Coppell not to leave Reading following the club’s relegation last season is one which could prove vital to their chances of an immediate return to the top flight and Murty is ready to give the manager his all.

He said: “I think it’s vital [that Coppell stayed]. I think the only reason he would have left is if he couldn’t do anything more for the team and couldn’t take us any further.

“The fact that he stayed says to me that he thinks he can take us back into the Premier League and that he is the right man for the job and we’re delighted that he’s stayed.

“We just want to repay a little bit of his faith now by doing the job properly.”