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Paul Ince says he does not feel under any additional pressure as Reading FC manager ahead of the last eight games of the season.

The Royals are 18th in the Championship table as it stands, but are expected to have six points deducted “imminently”, which would see them drop to three points from the relegation zone.

In addition to the threat of going down, the manager has numerous injuries in his squad to deal with as he prepares his players for Saturday’s game at Bristol City.

READ MORE: Paul Ince makes the admission when discussing Reading’s ‘imminent’ six-point deduction

Reading fans have been particularly frustrated in recent weeks and months as the team failed to capitalize on a strong start to the season. They have won just two of their previous 14 games, a streak that includes four losses in the last five.

But Ince says his focus is on what happens on the pitch and racking up enough points in the coming weeks to preserve the club’s second-tier status for the tenth year running.

“I don’t feel under pressure, not really,” he said at his pre-match news conference at lunchtime on Thursday. “The pressure is when you can’t feed your kids after going out and doing a 9-5.

“This is a job you should enjoy. I’m sitting here feeling like we’ve done our job (ensuring survival) but at the same time, we haven’t done our job (due to point deduction). And it’s through no fault of our own. but we have to pick up the pieces and that’s what we have to try to do.”

Reading are without a number of key players this weekend, including Liam Moore, Tom McIntyre and Shane Long, who have all been ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury.

Scott Dann has also been injured during the international break, while Andy Carroll and Tom Ince are struggling to get fit for the game at Ashton Gate.

The manager admits that he will have to draw on the players from the club’s academy to increase the size of the team in the coming weeks and increase his chances of scoring points.

“When you think back to the start of the season, we had the Under-21s on the bench and we’re back at that now,” Ince said. “It’s an opportunity for them to get up, but it’s going to be a tough (last) eight games.

“When you get to this stage of the season, you want a 25-player squad, or 20 at least. They all got stronger in January, but we didn’t have that luxury and that’s why you pick up these injuries because you’re asking the same players to go to the wall.

“And when you get to this stage of the season with only 13 or 14 fit senior players, it’s tough. And with six points (discounted), it can be demoralizing.”

“But having kids come through the ranks at Reading is exciting too. I’m not averse to giving these kids a chance, they all need a chance. Kelvin Abrefa scored against Watford in the FA Cup – that’s what dreams are made of. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan played at the start of the season and Femi, Azeez can do some things… we should be excited. It’s important as a club that we develop our under-21s, otherwise there’s no point in having an academy.”

BerkshireLive will have full coverage of Bristol City vs Reading FC in the Championship at Ashton Gate. Our live blog begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and begins at 3:00 p.m.

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