He is not, however, talking about the fact that it is a game between two teams whose managerial futures are unclear at this stage - but about the fact that a win would almost certainly catapult the Hammers into the top three.
"Reading are well organised and enthusiastic but psychologically a win is important because it would probably lift us into the top three," he says.
"They have a good all round good shape in midfield with a lot of energy and really do motor on.
"They have the lad from Bristol City, Scott Murray, and obviously Shaun Goater who has given them an extra cutting edge - they are the main two that they have added.
"Nicky Forster is very quick with good movement and we have got to defend well - but we have got that quality in attack where we must make that tell.
"They are a tough team to go down to because they can close you down goal side and then go for the jugular - they won't change the way they play."