Reading FC slipped to a first defeat in six games at Ipswich Town on Saturday, with Mick McCarthy’s side running out 2-0 winners at Portman Road.

First-half goals from Callum Connolly and Joe Garner ensured the points remained in Suffolk, with the result lifting the former European Champions into eighth-place.

A resurgent run in recent weeks has seen Reading move away from the bottom-three and towards the top-half, and the Berkshire outfit will look to return to winning ways when strugglers Burton visit The Madejski on Saturday.

Midfielder Joey van den Berg insisted that his side must quickly put defeat behind them.

“You don’t have a lot of time to think about bad results because games keep following up quick,” he told the club’s official website.

“You can prove to yourself and the team that you can do better.

“We have to keep going, you can’t let your head down and think this is going (to be the same) every game.”

The Verdict

Reading fans will be relatively pleased with their side’s form as of late, following what has been an unacceptable start to the season.

Jaap Stam’s side clearly harboured a playoff headache following their final defeat to Huddersfield in the end of season showpiece, but those associated with the club will hope this barren spell in now behind them.

Stam must bounce back against Burton on Saturday, with three points against the strugglers essential to any potential push for promotion.

Reading fans, can your side realistically make the playoffs this season? Have your say below...