Sitting four points above the relegation zone, Reading’s Andy Rinomhota is confident that the Royals can survive the drop ahead of their trip to Bristol City on Friday.
“Everyone is confident we have what it takes to survive,” said Rinomhota.
“We know we’re a good side and we can get results and on our day we are a very good team and we shouldn’t really be in this position but we are and we know we will be able to get out of it.
“Bristol City are in a good place for themselves and aiming for the play-offs, so it will be a difficult test for us away from home but we know we’re capable of getting a result.
Rinomhota scored a crucial last minute equaliser against table toppers Norwich City last midweek with his first goal for the club in a desperately dramatic conclusion to the match.
“I had a lot of time to think about it but it was on my left foot so I thought I have to hit this, hit and hope really, but thankfully I managed to guide it into the corner of the goal,” said an upbeat Rinomhota.
Reading used the momentum of a last minute draw at Norwich to gain an important win at home to Brentford last weekend to put the Royals four points above the drop zone.
“We always keep going until the last minute and fighting until the very end so we know we always have a chance to get a goal,”
“We’re looking above us and thinking who we have to reach rather than the teams below us, we are no thinking about what’s behind us, we want to get as far up the league as we can.
“We’re trying to stay level headed and not get carried away with any results that have gone our way and pick up the points where we can.”
The Royals midfielder has been a breakthrough success this season having been nurtured in the club’s academy and has made 23 Championship appearances this season for the club.
“It’s been a good season for the academy, the new boss has come and he’s managed to get the young lads in the team and everyone involved has to be proud of all the youngsters that have come through,” continued Rinomhota.
“I came late to the academy system, it very much helped me with my development as I needed the styles of under 23’s football to improve my technical style so that helped me to get where I am today.
Rinomhota was full of praise for Reading manager Jose Gomes who arrived at the Madejski Stadium in December, taking over from previous manager Paul Clement.
“The manager has got everyone together, pulled us all in and you can see the cohesion of the group that everyone is fighting and all the loan players have put in very big and good performances that have helped us get points over the last few months so all credit to him,” continued Rinomhota.
“The loan players had a reason to come here and they heard the gaffers philosophy and they’ve got behind it.
“They’ve all pulled their own weight and contributed more than enough to our cause and have made it their own cause as well.
“We can push for better things next season, the boss has only been here for a short time but everyone has adapted to his philosophy well and we’ve been getting good results at home.
“If we had the whole pre season with him, he could get his style fully across to us and I think we can only go upwards from there.”