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Brian McDermott has had no time to get wrapped up in the emotion of Reading's red-hot streak as he prepares to face Nottingham Forest tonight (8pm kick-off).

Royals have reached the summit of the Championship table and are three points clear having won a remarkable 14 of their last 16 games.

A return to the Premier League will be guaranteed tonight if they better West Ham United's result away to Bristol City – they need a maximum of just four points to go up.

McDermott said: “It's not a time for emotion, it's just a time for doing my job.

“The Nottingham Forest game is the only thing in my mind and it's the only thing on the minds of the players.

“They've won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five away from home and got four clean sheets. That tells you everything you need to know.

“They have good players and they have really picked up under Steve in the last few months to get themselves out of trouble. It will be tough for us.

“We know what we require and all we can do in this game is get three points. Nothing changes as far as I'm concerned – the focus doesn’t.”

Royals have just three games to go until the end of the season.

Few would have predicted such a thrilling campaign back in August after Reading lost five games in a row and McDermott is looking forward to the season finale on April 28 against Birmingham City.

He added: “There has to be an end game and we are getting close to the end game.

“I said to myself that if we could be in front of the third-placed team with three to go I would be happy with that.

“I was thinking by a point or so, but we're six points clear so credit to the players. It means nothing now and we just have to concentrate on the next game.”