Sunderland have nothing to fear heading into the final four games of the Sky Bet Championship season, according to Chris Coleman.
The boss believes the Lads can take confidence from their last four performances, and although late goals have dashed the points they deserved, the Welshman is asking for more of the same from his players.
Reading, meanwhile, sit five points above the drop zone but they are by no means safe, with Barnsley, who currently occupy 22nd, holding a game in hand over Paul Clement’s side.
And although Coleman expects the Royals to avoid the drop, he urged his players to earn three points and spark a much-needed winning streak.
“It will be a tough game, but we’ve got to go there and roll our sleeves up,” said the boss.
“Let’s have a crack at it, let’s go for three points, let’s try and win the game by hook or by crook and let’s see where we are at the end of that.”
He continued: “I don’t think Reading are going to get sucked into it, but we’ve gone to Derby and won.
“Like I said, after the last four games we could be sitting here with 12 points, so there’s nothing for us to be afraid of.
“Away to Reading, at home to Burton, away to Fulham and at home to Wolves, that’s our run in.
“Four games that we need to win to give ourselves a realistic chance of the teams two places above us looking over their shoulders, and having to do more work themselves.”