Reading defender Andre Bikey is confident he'll be playing in the Premiership next season.

He said: "When we were at the African Nations Cup the players would speak all the time about our clubs. Everyone was asking about Reading and saying everything was bad.

"I wasn't happy because I didn't want to play in the Championship. That would not be good for my career.

"I was worried. I thought losing eight games was too much - I had never seen a team that could come back from that but it has happened.

"When you lose eight games it is not so easy. After that there were a lot of questions. The gaffer made some changes. He didn't do it before because he had confidence in the players who were already there.

"But he made the changes in the end and everyone is happier because it worked. We played five games, won three and had one draw.

"If we win another two or three we will be here for the next season.

"The team is strong because after eight losing games many people thought we were finished. Now everybody is confident.

"The victory at Middlesbrough saw us start to win again and we have done well.

"It is true that what does not destroy you will make you stronger. That is a saying not just in England but in other countries as well."