Salako: We've Got To Beat Teams Like Wimbledon

Last updated : 13 September 2002 By Rob Cooper

Rotherham's Rob Scott plays the ball past Salako
Rotherham's Rob Scott plays the ball past Salako
Salako, who has been criticised by some sections of the Reading support for simply 'going through the motions' this year, believes that the Royals can challenge for a place in the play-offs this season.

The 33-year old admitted: "I don't think we've even come close to reaching our potential, when you look at people like Anthony Rougier and John Salako on the bench, and Nathan Tyson who hasn't even played, it shows that there's competition for places.

"We've got to believe in ourselves so that we can go on and beat teams like Wimbledon. Then we've got Wolves and Norwich so they're all big games to look forward to.

"If we win against Wimbledon then we'll get into the top six - you don't need a bigger spur than that. We've got something to play for, and the belief is coming into the side.

"If we get four or six points in the next two games it might show that we could be up near the top six in May."

The Royals got knocked out of the Worthington Cup in the First Round on Tuesday. The team put in a distinctly below par performance culminating in the 3-1 defeat at Cambridge.

Salako added: "It was our worst performance of the season. I was absolutely gutted after the game because it's embarassing to go to places like that and lose.

"We let ourselves down, we let the fans down and we let the club down but there is no point dwelling on it. It would have been nice to have a cup run, but we've got a great chance to redeem ourselves in a great game tomorrow."