Reading FC manager says relegation battle will go down to the "wire"

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Stephen Emerson

The Select Car Leasing Stadium

Reading FC’s interim manager Paul Ince says belief is key as his side gear up for a Championship relegation battle.

The former England captain secured a 2 - 1 win over Birmingham City at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday night and will play Blackpool away on Saturday as they bid to build a buffer between themselves and the relegation zone.

Ince's first victory as interim manager follows the win secured by his predecessor Veljko Paunovic against Preston North End last weekend which saw the Serbian leave the club by mutual consent shortly afterwards.

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Reading FC sits eight points above Derby County at the top of the relegation zone and are five points behind Hull City who have played one game more.

The Reading FC interim manager said: “There has been doom and gloom but Reading weren't in the bottom three.

“There is quality in the side and when you have that you'll always score goals and create chances.

“When you win games, the belief grows, it's like anything. The fans are so important. We're not going to win every game.

“It's going to go down to the wire, let me tell you that. We've got a nice little gap but teams still have to play on Wednesday night.”

Paul Ince made his first key backroom staff appointment this week with the arrival of Alex Rae.

The pair played together at Wolverhampton Wanderers and while player manager at MK Dons, Ince signed Rae there in 2009.

Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset. Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users. He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.