Gary Speed knows exactly how dangerous Reading will be when the free-scoring Royals pitch up at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

Reading have scored seven goals in their last two successes against Bristol City and Derby County respectively, but Speed says the Blades will remain focused on the job in hand:

"It will be a good test; they are scoring plenty of goals and have several players in top form including Kevin Doyle and the Hunt brothers,(Stephen and Noel), so it is going to tough.

"Despite that, we have a good home record and are looking to continue that. They have quite a few players with experience of this division, but we have worked hard in training and are keen to extend our current good form.

"These games are hard to predict, it will either be a 5-4 classic or a bore draw, but we are just looking for a positive result."

Speed is full of admiration for the Royals and their manager Steve Coppell, and is of the opinion that any team that finishes above Reading will be playing in the Premiership next year:

"Automatic promotion is our goal and that is what we are striving for. If you finish above Reading then you will be going up automatically so this game is a great benchmark for our progress.

"Steve Coppell is a great manager and he has had the full support of his Chairman, who could have easily panicked but obviously they have a good relationship.

"Steve is a philosophical type and he has had experience of both the good and the bad in recent years."