Reading Football Club News

• Nickname:Royals
• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Royals ready for tough start

14 Jun 2007 - 12:37:41

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Midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson claims Reading won't be daunted by the opening to the new Premier League season despite drawing Manchester United and Chelsea in their first two matches.

The Royals held the eventual champions to a 1-1 draw at the Madejski Stadium towards the beginning of last season and also took United to a replay in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February.

They also took a point off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and lost the home clash 1-0 to an Ivar Ingimarsson own goal as Steve Coppell's side performed well against the leading sides in their debut Premier League season.

"Opening fixtures don't come more difficult than the one we have at Manchester United. It's the one that everyone will be looking at and we will be in the spotlight right from the start of the season," Gunnarsson told the club's official website.

"We did well at Old Trafford twice last season with the FA Cup draw and only losing by one goal in the league.

"So we will go there with confidence and it's possibly better to go to United at the start of the season rather than in February or March when they might be chasing points for the title."

Meanwhile, the Icelandic midfielder is looking forward to facing former team-mate Steve Sidwell following his free transfer switch to Chelsea.

"The pressure will be off us in some ways. Anything we get will be brilliant, but if we lose people will say it was probably expected," he continued.

"The Chelsea game might see Steve Sidwell come up against us, but as players we have become used to facing old team-mates over the course of our careers.

"It will be a bigger thing for the supporters rather than the players.

"All in all it's a very difficult but exciting first week to start the new season. I'm looking forward to it."