When Reading hosts Fulham on Saturday at Madejski Stadium, the club will be seeking their first win of the season in the Premier League.
Through seven matches this year, Reading has only earned three points and is in danger of relegation. Fulham sits in eight place, while Reading is in 19th place.
"We really need the fans. They have to believe (in us),'' said Reading manager Brian McDermott to ESPNFC.com. "They have been important to us since I became manager. They have stuck by us when times have been difficult. Now we are going through a difficult spell of results but they can really pull us through."
"Everyone knows the Madejski Stadium is a very difficult place to come and get a result and the fans are a big part of that," said McDermott. "I'm sure they do believe that we can do whatever we have to do in this league."
Reading striker Jason Roberts will continue his protest of wearing a Kick It Out shirt for the second straight game. He spoke about the team's recent play.
"The performances have been better than the results, but that's the Premier League for you,'' he said to ESPNFC.com. "As a group we are new to this league, but we have a strong squad. We are disappointed with the results but we believe that will change."
Fulham has earned 13 points in eight matches this year and has played well this season after losing Clint Dempsey to a transfer earlier in the year. The club has played well on the road recently, last losing 3-0 to West Ham on Sept. 1.
"I'm not sure if our away form is as bad as it was before. Our only bad game was at West Ham.," said manager Martin Jol. We only narrowly lost at Old Trafford, we beat Wigan and we got a draw at Southampton so hopefully we can continue and get more points away from home than we have managed over the last three or four years. If we can get four, five, or six away wins, coupled with our home form, then that would put us in a very good position."
Midfielder Simon Davies will miss the match with a hip injury, while Damien Duff will play. Fulham has played clean matches this season, only getting called for five yellow cards, which is the least amount in the league, according to Yahoo.
Although Reading has yet to earn a win, the club has committed only 62 fouls on the season, the lowest number in the Premier league.
"The mood in the camp is good and we're looking to Saturday. This is when you need spirit - people talk to me about spirit after winning 15 games out of 17 last season. But that's just momentum - obviously you need spirit to dig those results out but this is when we need it most," said McDermott.
The club has scored eight goals in seven matches, but has allowed 14 to go against them.
"We need people coming together and a 'no blame' and 'no excuses' culture. We need our fans - we really do. Anything that's worth achieving is never easy," said McDermott. "If anyone says to me that last season was easy then trust me, it wasn't."
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