Reading boss Ruben Selles hopes his squad can pull together despite the club’s issues off the pitch as they prepare to face Wanderers.

The Royals were hit with another points deduction by the EFL earlier this week, which leaves them in the drop zone following last season’s relegation from the Championship.

Selles insists they have maintained their usual preparation for the fixture despite the noise around the club.

“We had a meeting as a squad this morning and we put everything on the table,” he told the club website.

“We know the situation that we have. As a team we are all together, and we need to keep doing things together. On the pitch, there is no point to go away from our plan – that should be mandatory for all of us.

“The table is not reflecting our level of football, with or without the points deductions. From some games we deserved to get more.

“That is the spirit that we want - keep working on the things that we need to do and keep preparing in the way that we always prepare.

“We know now how much every single point means for us, and how much we need to fight for every point because of these deductions. That is the way that we need to follow and it should not be a distraction for us.”

He added: “I ask the fans to be with us, to be together. I know that it has been a very difficult time so this is the time to show character. I think that we all have that.”

Wanderers currently sit second in the table, having lost just once in the league since the start of the campaign.

“I expect to face a really good team,” Selles explained. “Intense, aggressive, direct, and knowing exactly what they are playing for, with a really good mix between experienced players and players in their peak. I expect a hard game.”