Reading manager Brian McDermott has described his side's goalless draw at home to Swansea City on Boxing Day as "progress".
The Royals have now moved off the bottom of the Premier League table as they kept only their second clean sheet of the season.
"It is progress," McDermott told BBC Sport. "We've been having 7-5, 4-3, 3-3 and 2-2 games here so to get a clean sheet is very important.
"Psychologically, it's a lift for us. We're off the bottom. They talk about the past, but [survival] is doable for us - we believe it's doable, I believe it's doable. We're going to relish the challenge."
Reading are back in league action on Saturday when they welcome West Ham United to the Madejski Stadium.