Boss: Foz and Kits can ignite Reading's season

Last updated : 18 September 2004 By Rob Cooper
Speaking after Reading's 3-1 win over Gillingham, manager Steve Coppell admitted that he thinks Nicky Forster and Dave Kitson are finally ready to gel as a strike partnership.

Kitson scored a hat-trick as the Royals raced to victory at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon, whilst Fozzy scored a brace on Tuesday night as the Royals overcame Preston.

A week ago Forster and Kitson had scored a combined total of just four goals, but after successive 3-1 wins the deadly duo now have a much more impressive ten goals to their name.

And had good goalkeeping and bad luck not kept Nicky Forster out this afternoon, Foz and Kits would have an even more impressive haul.

Coppell said Forster and Kitson have come a long way, but fired out a warning to the rest of the division, claiming that his trigger-happy strikers are not yet firing on all cylinders as they are still getting to know one another.

"Two or three games ago Kitson and Forster were being very self-critical, and felt they hadn't produced what they're capable of, but I was quite happy with it because we were always creating opportunities," he said, speaking after the game.

"Everybody says we can have the best strikers in the division this season and now Kitson and Nicky Forster have got to try to live up to that reputation."

"But they're not a gelled combination as yet, they're still coming to terms with how the other plays. This is a massive test for them, strike combinations have got to produce over nine or ten months in all weather and all conditions."

Forster and Kitson will hope to get their names on the scoresheet again on Tuesday when the Royals entertain Watford in the Carling Cup second round.