No Saints grudge for Reading´s Adkins

Reading manager Nigel Adkins says he will treat the clash with former club Southampton on Saturday as he would any other match.

Adkins spent two-and-a-half years at Southampton, guiding them from League One to the English Premier League before being dismissed in January, to be replaced by Mauricio Pochettino.

And Adkins said he intends to every courtesy to the Argentine and his team when they arrive in Berkshire this weekend.

“We welcome the opposition management to the Madejski Stadium and, like every opposition team, we always invite them in for a drink afterwards, win, lose or draw,” he told reporters.

“Situations happen in life and in football. I had a fantastic relationship with the supporters and everyone at Southampton but that has now gone.

“We had a fantastic journey there and that can never be taken away. We were with the players for two-and-a-half years and we were very successful in that spell and we played some good football. The situation has happened and what we have to do is move on. You have to move forward. That is the reality.”

Adkins still believes in Reading’s ability to escape relegation despite sitting last on the table, and he expects a competitive game on Saturday.

“You won’t be in our dressing room if you think it is a lost cause,” he said.

“The opposition are in a good vein of form but we are at home. These are the two teams that finished first and second in the Championship last season.

“There were some good games last season, it was a good game this year at St Mary’s. We have to get the three points at the weekend. It is very close down there. We need to get some victories under our belt.”