Reading midfielder Jay Tabb believes the Royals need to discover a more ruthless streak as they go in search of their first Barclays Premier League win of the season.

Brian McDermott's side have picked up five points so far on their return to the top flight, and welcome Norwich to the Madejski Stadium today still looking for an elusive three-point haul.

Tabb, 28, does not think the team are too far away from achieving their goal and insists the dressing room remains upbeat despite sitting 18th in the table.

'Out of nine league games we have taken the lead five times, so we just need to be a bit more ruthless at seeing games out and we will be fine,' he said.

'The atmosphere and the spirit here is still pretty good.

'It looks like we are going to win games and I think if the performances weren't there, and we were getting badly beaten every weekend, the morale would be down.

'But it looks like we have got the ability to win games and we have just got to see them out.'

Reading are also yet to keep a clean sheet in any competition this season, but former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Tabb knows the squad are capable of improving their defensive work.

'It is something we did a lot last season and I think that is why we were so successful, we were very hard to beat once we got in the lead,' he said.

'I think we just need to find that form this year which is obviously going to be different because we are in a league higher. But the gaffer knows what he is doing and as players as well we are working on it, we know we have to hold on to a lead.'

Tabb believes the Canaries have set out a perfect blueprint for promoted teams to survive in the Premier League and knows they face a stern examination from Chris Hughton's side.

He said: 'I think Norwich are a side that did fantastic last year and they are a team that we have got to look to and try and copy what they did as well.

'Obviously they didn't start the season too great but they have had some good results recently and they are especially hard to beat at home.

'Would we have preferred to have played them a few weeks ago? I'm not too sure that matters really. I think they are a good side and it is going to be a tough test for us.'

Despite not managing to win a league game this season, the Royals have managed to pick up three draws out of four matches in front of their own supporters.

Former Coventry midfielder Tabb is thankful for the backing but does not now how long it will last if the elusive win does not come soon.

'They are supportive at the moment, I'm not sure how long it will last,' he said.

'I like playing at home and away. The Tottenham game (a 3-1 defeat) was one of our worst performances of the season but the fans are pretty good to us and stay on our side.'