Published: Friday, 5th February, 2010 8:00am

Church tells McDermott: `Stick with us.'

by Anthony Smith

In or out? Royals boss Brian McDermott praised Simon Church (right) and Shane Long for their performance against Barnsley. But who will start up front at Doncaster?

SIMON Church is urging Royals boss Brian McDermott to stick with him and Shane Long up front in tomorrow's televised clash at Doncaster Rovers (5.20pm ko, live Sky Sports).

The 21-year-old Wales striker hopes both did enough in the 1-0 victory against Barnsley last week to warrant a start at Keepmoat despite pressure from Gunnar Thorvaldsson, Grzegorz Rasiak and youngster Nicholas Bignall.

And Church believes that in time he and Long can rediscover the partnership that saw them crack a glut of goals in the reserves when McDermott looked after the team.

After a frustrating few months with injuries, Long finally grabbed his first league goal this season in the win against the Tykes, while Church has four in total, although he has not scored in the Championship since a 1-1 draw at Bristol City on December 19.

However, their efforts last weekend won high praise from McDermott who beamed: "There are signs of a growing partnership between Shane and Simon."

And that was music to Church's ears: "It's definitely good to hear that," he said. "We always said we want to play with each other, though it doesn't really matter who plays up front.

"We know our jobs and we're all comfortable. But me and Longy used to play together for the reserves so we have a bit more of a partnership.

"And the more games you play with each other the better the bond."

The Royals desperately need an injection of goals from somewhere to guarantee their survival having netted just 28 times in the league all season.

Only Plymouth and Swansea have scored less with 23, although the Welsh club are riding high in fifth on the back of a mean defence.

Rasiak and Gylfi Sigurdsson are the club's leading scorers in the Championship with six apiece and Church admitted: "We haven't scored as many goals as we would have liked, both personally and as a team.

"But we are creating a lot more chances now. It's more down to us to put them away.

"As long as we keep creating chances we will score. It doesn't matter if we miss a couple, eventually the goals will come."

The Royals face a massive month ahead in their bid to avoid the drop and they will be firm underdogs at Keepmoat where Donny have lost just twice in the league all season.

McDermott's men then face a relegation six-pointer against Plymouth Argyle at home next Tuesday (8pm ko).

"It's a heavy week for us but it's good," added Church. "We want games to come thick and fast.

"We still have to play a lot of teams around us in the table and we need to pick up points from them.

"But we'll just concentrate on one game at a time and there's no doubt Doncaster is a big one for us.

"They've done well this season. They're a good passing team and it's going to be a hard place to go to.

"But we took a lot of confidence from beating Barnsley last Saturday and our performance so we'll go into the game with a positive mindset."

The Royals drew 0-0 with Donny at home in September but Church insists the team has turned over a new leaf in 2010.

"Things are definitely better now and it all came from the Liverpool cup game," he explained.

"We set a marker there. Last year wasn't the best but we're in a new one now. It's a clean slate for us and I think we're showing everyone that we're going to turn things around.

"We're fully confident and we just need everyone else to feel the same."

And he added: "We don't have to think about the manager's position any longer, we can just concentrate on football. I think we're on the up.

"We want to do well for Brian and he wants to do well for Reading. It's a good combination."

Reading's £2 million Doncaster signing Matt Mills is set to start, but midfield duo Jem Karacan and Sigurdsson have both picked up knocks and face late fitness tests.

Former Royals winger John Oster should line up for Donny.

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