After the game that took his managerial career into four figures, Steve Coppell could celebrate his 1,000 match milestone with three vital points away from home.

"It was important," the relieved Royals boss began his press conference after a vital 1-0 win at Doncaster.

"When it was put to me a couple of weeks back that this game would be my 1,000th I was hoping we would have picked up a few more victories in between!

"We've found life difficult at home and I think, to a certain extent, Doncaster have found things difficult too.

"When you have consecutive home games it can be very demanding in its own way, a groundhog day.

"But the important thing today was, not for me to even think about celebrating 1,000 games, but for us to be focused on getting the three points and thankfully we did that."

Coppell broke with routine by fielding a 4-3-3 on Reading's first ever game at the Keepmoat Stadium - and it worked.

"Like the other two teams up at the top end, we were some distance away from the rest and you soon become a target.

"Teams concentrate on developing a style of play against you and that's when you've got to adapt, change your way of doing things and make it different.

"The alternative is to just try to grind out results but we played a certain way today that meant players had to take responsibility on the ball, and they did that.

"And we looked to be in a good position but it was just a question of trying to score that important goal.

"It was professional, when in the recent games we've been over-anxious and trying to force things.

"I think we showed a renewed focus from everyone within the dressing room and even if we hadn't scored, I think it would still have been a pleasing performance."

Thanks to Dave Kitson's cracking 82nd minute finish, that goal finally came in dramatic circumstances.

"Kits is capable of that," Coppell said of his loanee's left-footed top corner finish from 18 yards out.

"He's been starved of goals and starved of minutes on the pitch and he's got a point to prove - as much to himself as to other people - in the remaining games.

"But we can't depend on one person. He's complementing the squad but everyone's got to step up at the moment.

"We've all had our sticky patches at the top, but that's because of the doggedness of the division.

"Every game is so hard, you have to be performing every week. And over ten months, 46 games, in all kinds of conditions, and on very different playing surfaces, it's always such a demand in every single game you play."

Look for extended video highlights on Reading World from 10pm on Wednesday evening.