FOUR wins on the spin will count for nothing if Rovers show any signs of ring-rust against Reading tomorrow.

Despite the disappointment of going out of the UEFA Cup to Greek side Larissa - despite winning the second leg 2-1 - Rovers are still in great form. Form that has seen them storm into the top six.

But anything less than a win against the Royals will be a major blow.

Steve Coppell's men don't look like the force they were last season.

With Steve Sidwell moving to Chelsea in the summer, Reading look like they've lost their leader.

They're a rudderless ship and they're in danger of sinking.

They did win last time out - against Derby - but that came on the back of their 7-4 defeat at the hands of Portsmouth.

So I feel Mark Hughes will have ear-marked this game as one they should be taking three points from, especially with it being at home.

It's great news that Ryan Nelsen is back in contention. Rovers have a lot of good defenders but Nelsen brings an air of authority and a solidity to the back four.

It will make a winning team even stronger if he does get back into the side and his fitness will give the manager a welcome selection dilemma.

Rovers will need a good win before they go into two big games - a Premier League game against Tottenham and a Carling Cup game against Portsmouth.

Losing to Portsmouth would be a major disappointment because the Carling Cup is a competition that Rovers will fancy their chances of winning.

The best way to go into those games is with the confidence of another win and I'm hoping that's what we get.