Royals’ cup crash can give Ed start on scrap for safety

DAVE EDWARDS believes Reading only have themselves to blame for not being in the FA Cup Fifth Round draw tomorrow evening.

Jaap Stam’s side missed several chances as they went out 3-1 at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night.

And with the Championship now the sole focus for the Royals, Edwards wants their work-rate and desire to bring results and to pull them away from a relegation dogfight.

On being knocked out of the cup, the Wales midfielder (left) said: “It’s obviously bitterly disappointing, it’s a competition that everybody wants to do well in and if you’re in the fifth round suddenly there’s a chance of going far.

“Unfortunately we were the makers of our own undoing – it’s bitterly disappointing but we’ve got to focus everything on our league form and try and get out of the position we’re in.

“We defended poorly and we missed some big chances. I missed a gilt-edged chance early in the first half and we had chances after that as well.

“Obviously goals change games and all three goals we gave away were poor. It’s the way it’s going at the moment and we really need to focus on that.”

Edwards says they are putting plenty of effort in on the training ground.

And with a busy February schedule and plenty of points to play for, the midfielder hopes to see the Royals kick on with a good run.

“We need to make sure we get it right in both boxes – we’ve got some really big games coming up and we can’t afford to lose,” said Edwards.

“When you’re in a position like we are you have to go into every game with 100 per cent application.

“It’s not working for us at the moment so we’ve got to make sure we give everything in these next few games.”