Coppell throws down goalscoring gauntlet to Long

READING manager Steve Coppell has thrown down the gauntlet to Shane Long ahead of tomorrow’s decisive Championship clash with Birmingham telling the Republic of Ireland striker: “It’s your time to deliver.”

The Royals will seal an immediate return to the Premier League if they beat promotion rivals Birmingham at the Madejski Stadium and Sheffield United fail to beat a Crystal Palace side managed by former Blades boss Neil Warnock at Selhurst Park.

The stakes could hardly be higher because if Reading fail to win they will have to settle for the lottery of the play-offs and a failure there would almost certainly result in star Irish duo Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt seeking pastures new.

However Coppell is confident Long, a bit part player at the club for the past two years, can fire Reading to the promised land of the Premier League.

The Tipperary-born striker scored twice in Monday’s 2-0 win at Norwich City and Coppell is backing him to deliver against Birmingham.

“Shane wants to be judged on his goals and starting appearances and now is his time,” the Royals boss said.

“He is very much in the box-seat because of his performances and goals recently. It is time for him to deliver.

“Goals affect interpretation of a contribution. Can he do it consistently? That is the test. I have always felt Shane is capable of scoring 20 goals a season, but he has had few chances because of the competitive striking unit we have.”

Who goes up and who goes down?

THE race for automatic promotion, the battle for a play-off berth and the fight for survival goes down to the wire tomorrow as the Coca-Cola Championship draws to a close.

Here is a guide to how things will be decided:

PROMOTION

* If Birmingham beat Reading at the Madejski Stadium, they will clinch automatic promotion to the Barclays Premier League.

* If Birmingham draw, they will need Sheffield United to fail to win at Palace to secure a top-two finish.

* Sheffield United will snatch second place from Birmingham if they win at Palace and Blues fail to beat Reading.

* Reading will secure automatic promotion on goal difference if they beat Birmingham and Sheffield United fail to win at Palace.

PLAY-OFFS

* Cardiff and Burnley will secure a place in the play-offs if they beat Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City respectively.

* If Cardiff lose at Sheffield Wednesday, Preston can snatch a top-six berth with victory at home to QPR.

* Should Cardiff beat Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley lose at home to Bristol City, Preston will replace their Lancashire rivals in the top six if they see off QPR.

* Anything other than a victory for Preston when QPR visit will secure a play-off place for Cardiff and Burnley.