Reading midfielder Charlie Savage has spoken on the differences in style under Noel Hunt compared to Ruben Selles, believing that their 'pragmatic' away performances could help narrow the gap in form between home and away matches.

Wales international Savage arrived last year and has racked up 72 appearances for the club, already scoring more goals this season compared to all of last year.

Sitting sixth in League One so far after last year's 17th place finish, the Royals are targeting an unlikely promotion against the backdrop of ownership unrest.

A key part of achieving that will be improving away form. Reading have won nine of their 11 home matches but only three of their 13 away matches.

This was a big issue last season too, with the Royals only winning four away matches all of 2023/24 under Ruben Selles.

However, under Hunt, Reading have lost one of their four matches on the road and are have picked up two draws and a win.

Speaking on this upturn in form before Saturday's FA Cup exit to Burnley, 21-year-old Savage believes the side are harder to beat away from home due to Hunt's set-up.

"The basis of the system is pretty similar [from Selles] but there are little tweaks. We’re a bit more pragmatic away from home, particularly in the first 15-20 minutes. I think it’s a really good idea because we’re a young team and we have a lot of legs so if we can stay in games away from home, especially in the first half, the second half we come into our own. Pragmatic first half and in the second half, go for the game.

"Home form is better for most clubs but we’re on the higher end of that spectrum so it’s about balancing that- getting more points away from home and continuing the great form at home.

"That is the first thing Hunty addressed- away from home you do have to play a bit differently. We did pick up some great results in the first half of the season under Ruben at Peterborough and Exeter but now we’re going a bit longer away from home. The only time it didn’t work was Lincoln, but we had a man sent off. The other two recent ones, and Wycombe, we’ve only lost one of our last four or five away so we’re doing a lot better at that."

Hosting Stockport County on Saturday, who sit in seventh, Reading travel to Leyton Orient and Burton Albion in the remainder of January.

During that time, supporters will be keeping everything crossed that the squad stay together, with the transfer window open until February 3.

Savage, like the rest of the squad, are happy in Berkshire as the team are looking on the up.

"Like with all players, you don’t know what is going to happen in this place," he said. "We saw last January that some players that had been here ages left. With me, I just take each day as it comes. I love playing for Reading, they’ve given me so much. They brought me from a big club, and I’ve played nearly 75 games, so I really enjoy being here and want to continue playing for Noel.

"You don’t know what’s going to happen even tomorrow with the owners so there’s no point talking about it. We’re all happy here, we love playing for Reading and for Noel, so we take each day as it comes."