Hahnemann demands Reading steel

Marcus Hahnemann says Reading need to play without fear (Getty Images)

Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann has urged his team-mates to stand up and fight as they bid to avoid relegation.

The USA international told BBC Radio Berkshire that the Royals need to build on the sort of spirit they showed in Saturday's defeat at Everton.

"If we played every game like we did against Everton, we wouldn't be in 18th. That's the bottom line," he said.

"Now we'll have some extra pressure on us and we'll find out who has the balls to handle it."

After their current run of six straight league defeats, Hahnemann warned it would be a battle to stay up.

"If we put in some lacklustre performances with people scared to play and not doing the right things at the right times, then we'll be relegated," he said.

But he denied that being in the bottom three would change the way the Royals have been playing.

"It shouldn't change what we've been doing," he added. "We haven't had the best results.

"It was a good performance against Everton. It's just that they scored the goal - it was a bit unlucky."

Reading are now in the middle of a fortnight off before their next game at home to Aston Villa on Sunday week, 24 February (1230 GMT).