Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is backing his players to deliver against Reading on Saturday - but admits it may not be pretty.

European hopefuls City battled their way to a point in a dour goalless struggle with Wigan last week and Eriksson anticipates more of the same.

After a raft of summer signings, City made a flying start to their Barclays Premier League campaign but recent opponents have learnt how to frustrate them.

They have slipped to eighth as a result and with struggling Reading needing points for different reasons this weekend, Eriksson expects another tight game at the Madejski Stadium.

The Swede said: "I went to see (Manchester) United-Lyon the other day.

"It was a very good football match but extremely open. It had nothing to do with Manchester City-Wigan, which was not open in any way.

"We expect a similar game. Reading are a fighting team, a good team defending well.

"They get bodies behind the ball when they lose it and are difficult to break down.

"They are good on the counter-attack and their two strikers are doing a great job so I expect a very difficult game.

"You can't expect Reading to give us space and time.

"If they do that we will be the better team. They will do everything to deny space and time for us, that is normal.

"I am confident. It is up to us and I think we can do it."

City have gone off the boil since new year, winning just two of their last eight matches. One of those wins was a superb derby success at Manchester United last month but they have not scored in their two outings since, which include a 2-0 loss to Everton.

Eriksson admits scoring goals has become a problem but he is convinced he has the players to put that right.

The former England boss added: "We don't talk about that - that would put pressure on them even more.

"It is good to create chances and if you create chances sooner or later you will score. That's not a problem.

"It is always a concern when you don't win football games - it is a little bit frustrating.

"I think we did okay against Everton but we lost. We had the ball a lot but didn't create too many chances.

"It was the same against Wigan and the chances we created we didn't take.

"It is frustrating and we try very hard to work on it and hopefully it will be better tomorrow.

"All the games we will play in the future will be against fighting teams because all the teams have something to play for. Reading are fighting for their lives.

"They are difficult games and we have to create more chances."

Despite their recent form, City have enjoyed an impressive season having spent the last campaign battling against relegation.

Eriksson fuelled the revival by embarking on a remarkable spending spree within weeks of joining the club last summer.

He signed eight new players before the season began and he recently pushed his spending towards the £50million-mark by bringing in another three in January.

More additions are likely in the summer but Eriksson admits he may be able to look closer to home this time.

City have an impressive Academy and their side last night put one foot in the FA Youth Cup final with a 2-0 semi-final first leg win at Sunderland.

Eriksson said: "I am sure that we will have two, maybe three players from that team with us here next season. That is good.

"Once again, congratulations to the Academy, they are doing a great job.

"It would be nice for the club to reach a final. We didn't do it so let us hope they do it.

"In the first-team squad I think we have five coming from the academy, which is brilliant. I think it will be like that in the future as well."

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