Coppell calls for calm following surge to the top

Last updated : 25 September 2004 By Rob Cooper
The Royals recorded a fine 1-0 win over Watford this afternoon to shoot to the top of the Football League for only the second time in their history.

And it was the third league win on the bounce for the Royals who last achieved a trio of wins a whopping 19 months ago.

But although his side have shot to the top of the fledgling Championship table, Reading boss Steve Coppell has called for supporters not to get carried away with his team's surging form.

"I shouldn't think they'll close the season now so it (being top) doesn't make a great deal of difference," said the Reading boss speaking after the game.

"We only take one match as it comes and we don't get carried away thinking further ahead than that."

Yet the hype was hardly helped by midfielder Steve Sidwell this morning being quoted as saying that Steve Coppell is in many ways similar to record-breaking Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Whether the managers are similar or not only James Harper and Steve Sidwell will know having both played under the two bosses. But on the field there is a tenuous comparison to be made between the two teams.

Although Coppell's team don't play the same attacking style of football as the all-conquering Gunners, the two sides seem to have a shared winning mentality - even if Reading temporarily suspend this when playing cup games.

The Royals crashed out of the Carling Cup in midweek, but bounced back to keep their winning league run going. Steve Coppell admitted he was pleased with his sides turn around following Tuesday's defeat.

"We got beaten 3-0 by Watford in midweek and that probably strengthened our resolve today.

"It's not nice to get beaten 3-0 especially if you are hammered but really we felt we'd played quite well and hadn't done much wrong. So it was good to bounce back."