Reading v Carlisle United: Selles expects "difficult" test

The Royals boss admits the Blues will have been given a lift by their victory at Burton Albion on Tuesday.

And Selles anticipates a difficult test for his side at Brunton Park on Saturday.

"I’ve been in the position [of Carlisle] before when I was with Southampton last year," Selles told his club's website.

"You know you are competitive but things aren’t going in your direction and you get one positive result and everything can change.

"I think it’s going to be a difficult game but we will be ready for the challenge. We watched them on Tuesday and we’ll do our full analysis with the technical staff to be ready for the game.

"When you win you have that feeling you can beat anybody, and they got the win on Tuesday.

"Even before their win though we knew it will be a difficult game because any fixture in the league is difficult. We’ve seen teams from the bottom beat teams from the top, that is not uncommon. The league is unpredictable in many senses."

Selles, meanwhile, hopes to see evidence of a “powerful response” to their points deduction when they take on the Blues.

This weekend’s visitors were docked two points this week over failure to meet HMRC payments on time.

It means the Royals have had six points removed over the course of the season as their crisis under owner Dai Yongge continues.

They now sit fifth bottom, 13 points above the Blues, ahead of Saturday’s visit to Brunton Park.

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Head coach Selles, speaking in the wake of the EFL’s punishment, said his team are showing signs of reacting in the right way,

“It’s obvious that everyone is disappointed in the first 24 hours, so we don’t push too hard in that moment, but I think from [there] we have accepted the reality and move forward in our focus for the next game against Carlisle,” said Selles.

Reading fans have regularly protested against owner Dai Yongge (Image: PA)

“The lads were disappointed in the moment because they are investing a lot and working incredibly hard, but at the same time we went out on the grass and did a brilliant training session.

“They started talking about it, and today it was repeated, so I’m pretty sure they have quickly taken it on board and will see what we can all do to keep this team up.

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“In that sense I feel the changing room had a very powerful response and hopefully we will see it on Saturday."

Selles accepted that, on the football side of the club, they cannot control the off-field sanctions Reading are facing, with owner Yongge also served with a £100,000 fine.

“If I think about how we could have more points and be in a better position, that is not going to solve anything,” added Selles.

“The only thing we can do is keep being us, keep winning football matches and stay together.”

Reading are three points above the relegation zone ahead of their contest with Paul Simpson’s Blues, when they expect to be backed by about 1,400 travelling fans.