Kelly Chambers has her eyes firmly fixed on ending the season in fourth spot.
All season, Reading Women’s target has been to finish amongst the elite and they will realise that ambition with victory at fifth-placed Birmingham on the final day of the season on Sunday (12.30pm).
In fact, just one point will do with the Royals sitting two places above the Blues in the table, but a win could still see Reading end above Arsenal in third.
That is down to a fine run of form from Chambers’ charges with six victories in their last seven matches, including Saturday’s impressive 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Madejski Stadium.
And the boss wants to finish the job this weekend.
“It’s been a fantastic season and it comes down to the crunch one on Sunday,” said Chambers.
“We know what Birmingham are about.
“They’re a competitive side. They’re strong, they’re in full confidence at the minute and we’re expecting a tough game no doubt.
“It will be a nice occasion as well being played at St Andrew’s.”
She added: “If you see where we were even before this season started, the players that we’ve brought in and the hard work they’ve done in training, I think anybody can see the way we’ve developed.
“The hard work they’ve put in has been fantastic and there’s more to come.”
Read the latest part of our interview with Reading FC chief executive Ron Gourlay
Up until Tuesday night, Reading were still in with a slim chance of capping their best ever season by clinching a Champions League spot.
Results elsewhere have left that out of their reach, but Chambers retain her hope of guiding the Royals into Europe sooner rather than later.
“We’re still in a building phase,” she said.
“We’re two-and-a-half years into being full-time professionals.
“We know it’s going to take us time to be up there in first or second place, but this year is another developing side.
“Now we need to kick on and make sure that next season we develop that even more.
“But our focus is on Sunday and making sure we finish as high as we can.”
She added: “We want to finish fourth, minimum.
“That was our goal at the start of the year and I’ve got the squad and the team to be able to do that.”
