Reading striker Noel Hunt says their clash with Aston Villa looms as a real six-pointer.

The Royals face their fellow strugglers at the Madejski on March 9.

After defeat to Wigan, Hunt said: "I thought the atmosphere was flat. It looked dead around the ground - that didn't help.

"We need our fans to be on top of us. We need our fans massively and need a big return in a couple of weeks.

"We must pick ourselves up now, we'll put it down to a bad day.

"I don't believe in six pointers and no one will stay up on the points they are on now."