|
Reading appeared lethargic as they set about finding away past Crewe this afternoon, not looking like a side capable of storming into the top six at the very last. But Coppell is holding onto the little hope he has left as the campaign reaches its grand finale.
Speaking after today's disappointing 1-1 draw at home to fifteenth place Crewe, looking ahead to next week's game at Millwall, Coppell admitted: "We've got to win, and our next game is Sydney or bust, as they say."
Whilst he puts on an optimistic face for the media, deep down the Royals manager must realise his 'sparkless side' don't have it within them to achieve a top six place.
Despite taking the lead early in the game, Reading played poorly throughout the first half today and seemed not to have the desperation to wrap up three points.
Coppell revealed that he got angry with his players at half time in a bid to get them to up the tempo in the second half, and although the performance improved in the second period it was apparent that the players are convinced that it isn't to be.
"I had a go at the players at half-time, because it looked as if it was a meaningless end of season encounter, when really we had so much to play for," Coppell suggested.
"If we play like we did for the last half hour of the first half, we're going nowhere. In the second half at least we played with passion, but we needed a spark and didn't have that.
"We need to become more clinical – we scored one goal and then relaxed instead of going for the jugular. If we'd gone for the second rather than sitting back it might have been a different game."
Meanwhile, injured striker Nicky Forster played his last game of the season for Reading today. He will not feature again this season as he must undergo a stomach operation on Tuesday to cure a long-standing problem.
Coppell has been without Fozzy, arguably Reading's best player, for long periods this season and he suggested that the player's absence through injury has cost his side this year.
Half-looking to next season he concluded: "We've not really had him since Christmas, so we won't miss him in that respect. But I know a lot of people would spend an awful lot of money on a fit Nicky Forster, including myself, so we’ve got that to look forward to next season."