Allardyce: fears for Royals

Reading must make sure the anxiety is used as a positive to get the best out of themselves because this is their last chance. They have to go and win it and see what happens after that.

Sam Allardyce
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Reading 0-1 Tottenham
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Sam Allardyce feels a lack of investment and a lack of quality up front could cost Reading their Premier League status.

The Royals have slipped into the relegation zone behind Fulham on goal difference after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Tottenham and even a win at Derby on the final day of the season might not be enough to secure their safety.

Allardyce feels Reading have become the latest side to fall victim to complacency in their second season after promotion and feels a failure to add quality players to the squad, particularly up front, could prove to be their downfall.

He told Soccer Saturday: "To be fair to Steve Copeel, from the start there wasn't a lot of investment.

"I don't know whether that was Steve's choice or the chariman's choice, but everybody else was spending huge amounts of money because of the huge influx of money into the Premier League.

"They had a fantastic season last season, but as a manager you must protect yourself from complacency - it happened to West Ham, it happened to Wigan and now it's happened to Reading and while the other two survived, Reading look like they might not.

"The players were so good last year, but it's caught up with them and there's not been a lot of quality brought in to strengthen the squad. Lots of other clubs have done that, so the Premier League is much more difficult than it was.

"They were always able to score goals and unfortunately that has completely dried up.

"Tottenham have a fantastic squad, a good team and have spent a lot of money - but this is their first win in six games and only their fourth in 12 Premier League matches so it wasn't such a daunting task to beat a Tottenham side with a frail defence.

"But on the day Reading couldn't handle the pressure of the game. I think Steve Coppell can, but his players almost tried too hard and lost any sort of quality that they normally show in the opposition box.

"Once Tottenham scored the game really opened up, which suited Spurs and they really should have won by three or four.

"The amount of chances that Tottenham, missed was unbelievable because most of them were clear cut."

Massive

Reading haven't scored in six games, but will go into next week's final game at Pride Park desperate for the win that could steer them to safety.

Allardyce was in a similar position when he was manager of Bolton several years ago and explained how he prepared for such a crucial week.

"Steve has a massive few days to prepare the players for the final game," he continued.

"I was in the same position with Bolton a few years ago when we played Southampton away, then had to wait for Middlesbrough on the Sunday. Middlesbrough were safe and we had to make sure that we beat them.

"Our plan was to give the players time off in the early part of the week and then we worked as light-hearted as we possibly could with a little bit of fun, laughter and banter. We didn't want to put too much pressure on the players.

"We trained every day at the Reebok Stadium because that's where we were going to play the last game and they were familiar with it.

"We knew what the basics were and thankfully we scored two first-half goals and won the game 2-1, but it's a big, big week.

"Playing against Derby, Reading must consider themselves to have a huge chance, but they must control their own nerves and their own anxiety.

"They must make sure the anxiety is used as a positive to get the best out of themselves because this is their last chance. They have to go and win it and see what happens after that.