Reading midfielder Charlie Savage says he is confident that his side “will be up there” in the League One table at the end of the season.
The Royals were hovering close to the bottom four after a poor start to the campaign but their victory over Stevenage on Thursday took them up to 12th in a tight table.
Savage scored the game’s only goal as Reading picked up their fourth league win of the season and first under new boss Leam Richardson.
“As a team we know that we’re going to be up there this season,” Savage told BBC Radio Berkshire.
“I think that’s why sometimes we don’t get too bogged down about all the noise from the media or negative energy.
“I just love proving people wrong, we have a never-say-die attitude in the group and in me especially, people can say what they like about us but as a team we keep going and we’ve got that desire within us and that’s all that matters.
“The gaffer said there’s 31 games left, there’s 93 points left to play for so let’s try and get as many as we can.”
Savage’s goal was a well taken strike in the first half, curling one into the far corner from the edge of the box.
The 22-year-old – who is the son of Forest Green Rovers boss and ex-Wales international Robbie Savage – has already made 114 appearances for the Royals.
He started his career coming through the youth ranks at Manchester United before moving to Berkshire in 2023.
“All season we’ve been there or thereabouts in terms of in games,” Savage added.
“It’s just seeing it out and getting that early goal and then having the game management and I think that’s what we’ve improved over the past week.
“We’ve got a little bit more defensive-minded and I’m just grateful to get the win against a good Stevenage team as well, we matched the fight they brought.
“The new manager (Richardson) is really good and he has quite a few staff, they’re really detailed, good people, and they’re demanding.”
After playing on Thursday Reading are now without a match this weekend before returning to League One action next Saturday against Wigan.
