Reading boss Steve Coppell has challenged his players to hold their nerve as the fight to stay in the Premier League enters its final phase.

The Royals travel to Wigan on Saturday desperate to keep ahead of third-bottom Birmingham, who are a single point behind and entertain Liverpool.

A home game with Spurs and a trip to already-relegated Derby will complete Reading's second top-flight campaign and the Royal boss was adamant his players were good enough to earn a third.

"We are capable of getting points from all the games but it is no good talking about it - sooner or later we have to deliver something," Coppell said.

"And the closer it gets to the end the closer it becomes a do or die scenario.

"We are still at this moment in control and I would like to think we could retain that and take advantage of the situation rather than be beholden to anybody else.

"There is no point looking down at the ground and thinking 'woe is me'. We have really got to attack these games from a performance point of view and mentally it is important we look forward to these games rather than whimper into them."