O'Neill's praise for Reading boss

Feb 9 2007

MARTIN O'Neill is unsurprised by the impact made by Steve Coppell's Reading this season, having witnessed their record-breaking waltz through the Championship last season, and then their unfortunate defeat at Villa Park in August.

Reading have won four matches on the trot and sit in sixth place in the Premiership on 40 points ahead of tomorrow's sell-out early kick-off at the Madejski Stadium.

"They have done absolutely terrific," he said. "And I have to say it has come as no real surprise to me. I accept that teams coming up and in their first year can get off to a good start and things can keep going for you. But I actually think that this season they have had to fight their way through.

"They won their opening game against Middlesbrough, then we beat them on a night we got all the luck. Then they lost a few games.

"But they've roared back. There's a great old spirit there and I think you can see that within their play."

O'Neill is particularly enamoured with Steve Coppell, the manager at the fore-front of Reading's magnificent revival.

"I know it is my favourite phrase but I have the 'utmost regard' for him.

"He has great experience as well, and while he may come across as being a bit downbeat with a 'we'll keep our feet on the ground'-type attitude, he is anything but that.

"He is a very smart guy and I like his interviews. He is an intelligent boy, no doubt about it."

O'Neill is pretty convinced that his Nottingham Forest side generally got the better of Coppell's Manchester United during his playing days.

"He was on the right wing for United when they had Gordon Hill on the left. But at that stage we had a reasonably good side at Forest and we generally beat them," he said.

"I remember going to Old Trafford and we beat them 4-0 the year we won the championship. I must boast about that one!"