Reading 0-2 Bolton

Feb 3 2008

READING gaffer Steve Coppell fears his side will end up being relegated unless performances improve soon.

The Royals' shattering loss to Bolton - Wanderers' first Premiership away win in 10 months - confirmed they are in real trouble.

Coppell said: "We can't beat about the bush - avoiding relegation is our only target and we have a real struggle on our hands.

"I haven't had that at Reading but we have to rise to the challenge.

"I've felt for a long time any three from eight or nine could go down. Now we're significantly one of the three."

It was Reading's sixth straight league defeat.

Coppell added: "We had good and bad spells last year but our good spells carried us through.

"This year we haven't had a good spell of any significance.We must score more goals and have more clean sheets."

Bolton's opener saw Kevin Nolan take advantage of Kevin Davies' header across the box after Reading failed to deal with a free-kick.

Bolton gaffer Gary Megson, who saw Heidar Helguson net the second, said: "I'm certainly delighted with the result but we can play a lot better.

"We got the second at just the right time."