Sheffield Wednesday: Royals out to pull clear of relegation trouble

The Royals, who travel to Sheffield Wednesday this weekend, still have plenty to play for over the coming weeks.

Reading, beaten on penalties by Huddersfield Town in the 2017 Championship Play-Off Final, are currently three places above the relegation zone with three matches remaining. They are five points clear of third-from-bottom Barnsley, who have a game in hand.

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Boss Paul Clement has overseen a mini revival in his five matches in charge, leading the Royals to two victories, two defeats and a draw. When the former Derby County and Swansea City boss arrived, Reading had won just one of their previous 18 matches

But Clement was left frustrated after his side let slip a one-goal lead in Saturday’s stalemate with Sunderland.

“There were some really positive things on Saturday but there were some things that were horrible,” said Clement, who succeeded Jaap Stam last month.

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“I think we have to play smarter in the next three games. The more we play like we did against Sunderland, the more it’s in the lap of the gods what will happen.

“The players - like myself - feel Saturday was a bit of a missed opportunity in terms of taking all the points, considering the last two home games we’d taken all the points [1-0 wins].

“But the players are motivated and focussed, and they know what’s required and know that this could go all the way to the death.”

After the trip to Hillsborough, the Royals host Ipswich Town followed by a trip to promotion-chasing Cardiff City on the final day of the season on Sunday, May 6.

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