READING manager Veljko Paunovic has hailed Cherries a "fantastic team", adding: "Everything is on their side."

Paunovic brings his table-topping Royals to Vitality Stadium tomorrow (12.30pm), looking to end a run of three straight defeats.

The Serb joined the Berkshire club over summer, replacing Mark Bowen, and was named Championship manager of the month for September.

Asked for his thoughts on Jason Tindall's Cherries, Paunovic said: "They are a fantastic team and definitely a contender for the top six, if not top spot.

"We all know where they are coming from, we are familiar with the team and they have a fantastic coaching staff who are very experienced and everything is on their side.

"But we are brave, eager, believe in ourselves and we are going to prepare and be ready.

"We won’t shrink - we are warriors and we’ll go with our identity and resources to get the points."

Cherries have not faced Reading since a 1-0 win at Madejski Stadium in 2015 and are unbeaten in their past seven matches with the Royals, stretching back to 2001.