Coppell: Win or bust - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Coppell: Win or bust

Reading boss Steve Coppell has described next weekend's clash against Derby as all-or-nothing in his club's battle against relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

Defeat to Tottenham at the Madejski Stadium, courtesy of Robbie Keane scoring the only goal of the game in the 16th minute, dropped the hosts in the bottom three with one match left.

The game is against Derby but three points are not guaranteed as Reading have not scored in six matches and Coppell said: "People remind you all the time that you haven't scored for so long and there is the confidence factor. Now it's win or bust next week, we have to get a result to give ourselves a chance."

He added: "It doesn't matter who we play we have to win, we've lost the habit of winning football matches."

Spurs could have sealed the points by half-time but only had Keane's strike to show for it. Darren Bent forced a save from Marcus Hahnemann when sent through and Steed Malbranque, a threat in midfield, made a mess of a close-range finish when he tried to backheel the ball in.

Keane's opener came after he was fouled by Michael Duberry but Howard Webb played advantage.

"At half-time I told them the effort was incredible - it was like they were trying to plait spaghetti - they worked so hard to stay in the game," Coppell said. "We just needed to restructure."

Coppell admits he could have done things differently, including investing more in his squad.

He explained: "Since the chairman has come here he's built a self-financing club. That ultimately might be our downfall.

"I didn't spend so much last summer and in January, if it doesn't work it's my fault. The manager always gets the blame, when the team do well the players take the credit, my shoulders are broad enough and I'll take it."

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