RACE TO BEAT THE DROP INCE OUT, HUNT IS ON

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC has sacked Paul Ince as manager with the club facing the threat of relegation from the Championship.

The Royals are in 22nd position and a point away from safety having

‘WE NEED EVERYONE TO STICK TOGETHER’

GOALKEEPER Joe Lumley has urged everyone to ‘stick together’ as Reading FC face an arduous task to try and stave off relegation. The Royals are currently in 22nd position, occupying the final spot in the drop zone with five matches left to play.

Lumley was impressed with Reading’s work rate against Preston and believes his teammates battled hard despite falling to a late defeat.

He said: “I think the boys put in a hell of a shift against a very good team in Preston.

“It’s a tough one to take.

“From a set piece at the end where we have to see it out and defend it. As a whole team, we’ve got to win our headers.

“The first one, maybe I should do better, but we’ve all got to do better on the second one.

“Now there’s five games to go. We’ll battle hard and give it our all.” not won in their last eight league matches.

Lumley, who is on loan for the season from Middlesbrough, has impressed during his spell in Berkshire and has put in some excellent displays throughout the campaign.

Despite his strong individual displays, Reading have now gone 19 Championship games without keeping a clean sheet.

Lumley continued: “It’s happened a lot throughout the season where we’ve dropped points late on.

“It’s about those small moments and details away from home.

After losing to a 92nd minute goal away at Preston, Reading remain in the bottom three with five matches left to play.

Reading’s dismal away form, compounded with a six point deduction from the EFL, has seen them dragged into the relegation scrap in recent weeks.

After relegation rivals Huddersfield Town and QPR picked up a point each on Monday, the Reading board opted to pull the trigger on Ince.

Head of football operations

Mark Bowen said: “I would like to thank Paul and Alex for their efforts throughout what has admittedly been a frustrating and exceptionally challenging season so far.

“The board will work diligently to identify the manager who is the best fit for this club going forward – a candidate capable of driving it towards a healthier, brighter future.”

“We need everyone to stick together and need the fans more than ever. We’ll keep fighting.

“We’ve got home games on the horizon and we need the fans right behind us in those games. There’s still 15 points to play for. So let’s get a couple of wins and get the points we need to stay up.”