Source: Team_Talk
Coppell looking to Royals old boys
Coppell has brought back winger Little from Portsmouth and striker Kitson from Stoke just a few months after they left the relegated Royals.
Little started the 2-2 draw with Charlton while Kitson was a surprise acquisition on the morning of the game, with Coppell admitting the chance to reunite two of the stars of their 2006 promotion season was too good to miss
"It just seemed too good an opportunity to turn down, especially after we stuttered in February," said Coppell.
"It's not an attempt to recapture anything, it's the chance to bring in two Premier League players who were available.
"It hasn't worked out for them so hopefully they both have something to prove."
Mark Hudson's late header denied the Royals the chance to close the gap on the top two at the Madejski Stadium.
With leaders Wolves and second-placed Birmingham drawing, Coppell's side were leading through two goals from Shane Long and poised to move to within two points of the top two until Hudson nodded Nicky Bailey's free-kick home.
"It seems to be the promotion nobody wants," added Coppell.
"It's down to us to take the initiative at home. We have to be better, we can't wait for things to happen, we have to make them happen."
Bailey had fired rock-bottom Charlton into a surprise lead with the Royals, who had not found the target in their previous three home games, misfiring again in the first half and hitting the woodwork three times.
But they drew level through Long's penalty a minute after the break, the striker having been brought down by Darren Ward.
Long put the hosts ahead in the 67th minute when he met a corner from
substitute Jay Tabb with a powerful header which gave Rob Elliot no chance.
But Hudson had the final say when he guided Bailey's deep free-kick back across goal and into the net five minutes from time.
Charlton still need a miracle to survive, remaining 12 points from safety with games rapidly running out.
But manager Phil Parkinson, who made 424 appearances for Reading as a player, took heart from a battling display.
"It was an excellent performance," he said.
"We needed to win the game but it terms of performance it was first class and a point was the least we deserved."
