Upson Ready To Hit Top Form

Last updated : 23 September 2002 By Rob Cooper

Matthew Upson
Upson hurdles Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann
Reading loanee Upson played his best game for the club so far as the Royals triumphed at Molineux on Saturday.

The Arsenal centre-back, who has Champions League experience, was delighted to be on the winning side in a Reading shirt for the first time and ending the clubs run of three straight defeats.

Upson feels that when he reaches full match fitness Reading fans will see what he is truly capable of.

"I think I'll get better and better every game to be honest. I came here a little bit match-rusty and my first performance was pretty poor," said the former England under 21 star, speaking to readingfc.co.uk.

"Against Norwich I was better and I improved again at Wolves. I'm confident in my ability and when I get my fitness and match sharpness back I'll be in top form."

Upson believes that the Molineux crowd worked in Reading's favour as they booed their seemingly incompetent team.

The 22-year-old admitted: "It's difficult to play at home when you're on a bad run, expecially at a club like Wolves where the expectations are so high. I felt a bit like that at Arsenal - you were expected to win every home game.

"We came here at the most perfect time because we walked off at half time with the score at 0-0 and their supporters were booing.

"We walked into the dressing room full of belief and confidence and belief that we could win this game, and as soon as we scored our goal we never looked back."

Looking ahead to Saturday's visit of Stoke City, Upson commented: "It's another big game. Wolves was a good game for us to win, and a good three points, but we have these games every week in Division One now."