Steve Coppell spoke to the media for the best part of 15 minutes earlier this afternoon, and readingfc.co.uk has a detailed transcript of his press conference.

He speaks on Sunday's game with Derby, our penalty taker, poor defending, confidence, injuries and much, much more.

Have you gone off into a dark room and watched the Pompey game? What are your conclusions?
It doesn't matter. We'll look to the next one now, there's not a lot of beneft in rehashing last week. We just look forward to the next one.

You won't be changing your approach, you'll still be on the front foot against Derby?
Yes. We want to be a certain kind of team. Heaven forbid we'd go out there frightened. Sometimes you have to stick to a gameplan but our desire is to score goals. That's the priority. We won't sacrifice anything in terms of style, we'll continue to play and try the way we know best.

Sloppy goals have been something of a staple against you so far this season.
Yes, you can't legislate for that. We didn't have those individual mistakes last year, and it can't continue. We will improve. The players care enough to do something about it, and that will have an effect.

Is this a six-pointer?
It's an important game. The classic 'six-point' question is almost as boring as the 'second season syndrome' one!

It's not that bad!
Haha! It's a big game. Psychologically I'd liken it to Wigan. Both teams can take a lot from it. Derby will look on it as an opportunity against one of the lesser teams in the division so far, and as a home game it's an opportunity for us.

There are two teams with a lot to gain, and suddenly because of the two week break there's psychologically a lot to lose.

Have you thought about making changes?
I always look to improve when we are beaten. The options are not that great, and I think the vast majority of the team need an opportunity. They might not deserve it, but they need a chance to put it right. I would hope, given the opportunity, they will do that.

How's the mood been in training. Confidence must have taken a dent, how are they feeling?
Listen, it's a football game. Nobody died, nobody was mortally wounded. We try our best to win, and if we do then great. If we lose, we go back to the drawing board. We don't walk around all week feeling sorry for ourselves and look for sympathy. That would be a recipe for disaster.

The season is long, and you have to look forwards. We have to respond to the challenge with a terrific work ethic, and approach every game as an opportunity, rather than just going through the motions.

But this is a new situation for your team, and needs a different side to the character.
You find out more. You see who's up for the challenge, and who looks to turn away. That will be obvious to most supporters, you don't need a tremendous insight to see the reaction of individuals. I just ask the players to give as much as they've got.

In terms of making changes this weekend, have you thought about the goalkeeper?
I've thought about all the positions. You look at variations and see which are the strongest. I thought Marcus had a good first half last week. We've conceded more goals outside the box than we did in the whole of last season, for whatever reason.

Is he top of his form? Possibly not, but I don't think anyone can say that, apart from maybe Kits recently. We're all a little down from last year, and we want to put it right, we're determined to get better.

Do you think Nicky Shorey has been affected by the speculation in August?
In terms of reasons why individuals are not as effective, you can read into it what you like. We're not playing well collectively, and the most important thing is that with each game we have a desire to improve.

I have that desire. When we're not doing so well, I look at my own performance and could I do better. The answer is yes, indeed, you have to look at your own input.

Will John Oster be ready to start, we saw that he was out there training.
It would be asking a lot. After six weeks, probably not.

How has Leroy Lita been, is he up for it?
They all are. On a daily basis, the resilience of a football team never ceases to amaze me. The morning afterwards they all come in raring to go. That happens when they're together. When they're alone they look inwards, maybe too much, but together they gee each other up and get ready.

Have you gone through the Pompey game as a squad?
No.

You scored four goals against UEFA contenders, that's one positive you can take.
It's a massive positive. The attack has not been as powerful as last season, but we got four goals away from home. There was a lot of good stuff. I hate the expression 'taking the positives' when you get beat, but if you analyse there were improvements in areas.

There were individual mistakes at the back, of course. They have to be eradicated, either by the people getting better, or by people coming in and doing better.

Scoring goals has been better and Kits is doing well.
It's the lifeblood of a striker. You feel justified, it lifts your self esteem. In this division though, you thrive on your defence. Nine out of ten times the effective teams have the best defence.

This year we have to work harder on it. Last year we took it for granted. All we can do is make sure we are prepared right, we're up for the games. Then it's down to attitude, preparation, ability.

How is Emerse Fae doing at the moment? He was your record signing, of course.
Well the French style of football is totally different. Early on he explained that in France, when a runner passes you, you pass him on. But here, there's individual responsibility. He can play, we've seen that on the ball, but there's a specific English quality he needs fairly quickly. He's coming to terms, and to make sure he plays regularly, he's fully aware of what is expected.

How far away is he?
I don't know, he speaks a different language! It's all based on performance. He's been involved in goals against us, and it's a learning curve. He's no dummy, he's a bright boy and he'll watch and learn as he goes.

He's an athlete, could you do with that?
It's not about that. We've played teams who are bigger than us. Fae is not the biggest. It's about retaining possession, not making silly mistakes under pressure. When it's going well you take those things for granted. When it's not, they go against you.

What about a penalty taker?
Well, Saturday was only the second time I've ever suggested a taker. The last time was at Palace, when it was Gareth Southgate. He missed!

What about Kits taking them?
I always say if you feel good, take it. Sometimes the designated taker might not be having a good game, and you have to be brave to say no at that point. It's a momentary thing.

Hunty was on it, and he has an unbreakable mentality. But between Dill and I, mainly me, Shorey was the one. He's our set piece man. It was an OK pen with pace, but he's a big fella in that goal.

Surely strikers want it as a chance to score?
They would have taken it, but there was only Hunty rushing in. How about this - I think the game would be better if you have to take the pen when you win it. That's a variation for you. It would be more interesting. Chew on that for a week!

How did Glen's operation go?
I spoke to him this morning out in Sweden, but I wish I hadn't phoned him because my bill will be enormous! He tells me he's on episode 23 of the first series of Prison Break, with another series to go. He can't move much, and he tells me they all die in the end!

Jon Fearn was over with him, and brought back some beautiful photos on his phone! They've cleaned up the wound, the scar tissue. We've got great confidence in the surgeon. Glen will be out there until Monday, then he comes back to start his rehab. We're happy with how it's gone. If we had our time again we'd have done things differently but we thought we could fix it. We had to be more radical in the end.

Are Convey and Oster both in the squad?
Oster will be. Bobby did a little bit this morning, but he's probably not right.

And Sonko?
He will be in the squad, yes.