Make no bones about it, this was a massive victory to start off a crucial week for Saints.

The visit to Reading was the start of a tough week for Saints, one that come next Saturday will see Saints supporters file out of The Valley with their team either firmly ensconsed in the relegation battle or heading towards mid table.

In truth their werent many who were willing to put their hard earned cash on a Saints win, or even draw at the Madejski Stadium, after all Reading had won seven and drawn one of their eight home fixtures averaging three goals a game and conceding only four.

However one thing is becoming clear this season, the team are learning quickly on the pitch and are using each set back to come back stronger.

Saints dominated the first half, taking the game to Reading and deserving more than the solitary goal half time lead, the only real scare being a second minute goal line clearance from Cork.

Things had to surely change second half and they did, but not in the way that the home fans expected, BWP scoing his second with a well drilled shot.

But knowing Saints they werent going to make it easy for the travelling supporters and on 57 minutes they let Reading back in the game and they went at Saints and for a good 15 minutes it looked like they might get a second and probably a third.

But Saints dug in and defended resolutely, in truth Davis didnt have many saves to make of note, although that shouldnt diminish his contribution as he marshalled and dominated his box.

With 15 to go Saints had weathered the storm and were starting to get back into the game again, holding the ball up and playing their way out of trouble, this ensured that the home side couldnt pile on the pressure for long periods.

The end saw much celebrating, the near 4,000 visiting supporters making themselves heard whilst Reading fans who had been leaving in droves well before the final whistle filed quietly out.

It was another big step forward now for Saints,as i have always said their will be setbacks, and as much as a defeat at the Madejski shouldnt have been the prelude to Saints being certainties for relegation, this win doesnt mean that Saints are now going to challenge for a play off spot, what it does mean though, is that those that doubt the fighting spirit of Jan Poortvliet and his side now have to think again, they have smashed the best home record in the division and beaten a side who many think and still think will be automatically promoted and they have done it in fine style thoughly deserving all three points.

My benchmark for Saints this season is always going to be the last six games they play and how many points were obtained in that period, our last six games have yielded seven points and when you look at the teams we have played its a great total, repeated over the season it would take us comfortably clear of the relegation zone well before April.

What we have to do now though is win at home and Tuesday will be a good opportunity to start putting our poor record at St mary's back on track, this is a tough week as I have said and we have started it well, if we can beat plymouth and then go and get a result at Charlton we should be starting to move into mid table      

Photo: Action Images

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