READING FC manager Jose Gomes paid tribute to the club's fans after a successful Easter weekend left Royals on the brink of Skybet Championship survival.

Having picked up a point at play-off chasing Bristol City on Good Friday, Reading backed it up with a 0-0 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

And with third-bottom Rotherham United losing both their games, Royals are now six points above the drop zone with just two games remaining.

They also have a goal difference +13 better than the Millers.

He commented: "We can say congratulations to the Reading family because we are building a very strong atmosphere in the stadium."

"Mathematically we are not safe yet – we need to work for another week. But it was a fantastic game, with fantastic support again from our fans.

"There was big noise; they supported our players from the beginning until the end.

"It was a very good atmosphere and this is important for us – to feel this from our fans in our stadium.

"If you watched this game, it is difficult to see which is the team that is fighting for promotion and which is the team that is fighting to stay in the Championship. We did very well and created a lot of chances."

Royals had to overcome adversity in claiming the draw against the Baggies, with goalscoring duo Nelson Oliveira and Yakou Meite both injured in the opening quarter-of-an hour.

Youngster Danny Loader came on for the former in just the sixth minute, making his 20th first-team appearance of the season.

And the 18-year-old praised the impact Gomes has had since joining the club in December.

He revealed: "The manager is not just a really good manager, but a good person as well. He speaks very well about us, he has confidence in us, the mood in the camp is very good with him around.

"He's helping everyone, he gets the thoughts of each player and how he can help them. It's very much like a family environment in the club at the moment."

Meite and Oliveira remain doubtful for Saturday's (3pm) trip to Middlesbrough, with the hosts currently sitting seventh in the table and just outside the play-offs on goal difference.