COACH Andy Garner says Derby County are ready for the challenge as Reading look to brush off their FA Cup disappointment tonight.

Reading were within touching distance of a first semi-final appearance since 1927 when they led Aston Villa 2-0 at half-time on Sunday but Martin O'Neill's side stormed back to win 4-2.

The Royals had already knocked out Liverpool and Burnley and manager Brian McDermott was proud of his team's display.

Now they return to League action looking to improve their position in the Championship.

They are 18th, only one point above the bottom three.

Derby are 14th and five points clear of third-bottom Sheffield Wednesday.

The Rams know they are in for a tough game at the Madejski Stadium (8pm).

"We know what Reading are about. If you give them time and space they will hurt you, as they showed in the first 45 minutes against Villa.

"We know we have to get in their faces and get round them and, hopefully, we will do that and make it hard for them," said Garner.

"It is Aston Villa they lost to, that's always a hard game. I think Reading will be disappointed going 2-0 up but they have had a great run in the Cup and under the new manager, they are playing very well."

Reading have won five of their last six League games and they hammered Sheffield Wednesday 5-0 at home in their last Championship fixture.

"The new manager has done a great job, he has got the players' confidence back and they are all playing for him," said Garner.

"They have picked up but they know they have to keep it going.

"The league is the bread and butter and I don't think their Cup defeat will affect anything at all. I think they will be 100 per cent ready for us. As long as we are 100 per cent, then it should be a good game.

"Hopefully, we can take it on from our win against Watford and go to Reading and get a good result."

March promises to be a crucial month in the Championship with teams facing a busy schedule of matches.

"I think this month is going to have a massive say. There are some big, big games coming up, not just for us but for everybody," said Garner.

"Even the two games this week, Wednesday and Saturday, could dictate how the season will pan out."

Derby found themselves five points above the bottom three when they beat Reading 2-1 at Pride Park at the end of November.

They now visit Reading and the gap is still five points.

"We came off against Watford thinking we might be eight points clear, thinking somebody might have lost down there but they all won," said Garner.

"Everybody is fighting for their lives week in, week out."