Daniel Farke visibly removed some weight from his shoulders as he revealed just how much he can relate to the disappointment of today's Carrow Road opponents Reading.

Jaap Stam's team were beaten in the play-off final by Huddersfield last season but arrive in Norfolk just six points above the relegation zone and with only one win in 17 league games.

'Sometimes it's really strange,' Farke said, gearing up for a lengthy but articulate speech. 'If you had asked me before the season I would have said with their style and that they are together for a long while, and with quality like (Sone) Aluko, I would say they are fighting for promotion, 100 per cent.

'When you watch the games, in many games they are pretty close and able to dominate the ball or whatever, but they are not able to score so many this season and also they had some problems in their defending that they didn't have last season – they did in the away game at Norwich! (the 7-1 defeat) – but this was nearly the only game last season.

'Sometimes small situations have an unbelievably big impact and can change many things. So for example, when I think about our Bolton game (0-0 at home), if we had been able to take one of our big chances, everyone would have said 'this was a firework of football and Champagne football and we are back in the battle for promotion' or whatever.

'But because we didn't score, it was like 'damn, we are not able to score, we are not good enough for promotion', although it was a little difference, but an important difference.'

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Also highlighting the poor penalty concession and bizarre penalty award when 3-1 ahead in the 4-3 defeat at Hull last Saturday, the German was clearly cleansing himself of some pent-up frustrations, as his mid-table team look to end a run of seven games without a win.

'Just the small things can change the whole mood and atmosphere and sometimes the whole season. I get the same feeling with Reading,' City's head coach continued.

'I still get the feeling they are a really good team, they could pretty easily be there with 20 points more but they have so many small situations that were against them that they are on a bad run and don't have the self-confidence.'