Jobi McAnuff helped ease the pressure on boss Brendan Rodgers as Reading ended their run of four consecutive defeats with victory over Coventry.

The winger, who followed Rodgers from Watford to the Madejski Stadium, scored his first goal for the Royals and set up the other two for Grzegorz Rasiak.

It was enough to lift Reading out of the relegation zone.

Coventry did find the net after failing to score in their last three games but it was of little consequence for Chris Coleman's men, who have now not won in five matches.

Reading were woeful in front of goal against Leicester on Monday night but it took them just 27 seconds to get the opener.

The lively McAnuff made progress down the right and crossed for Rasiak to head into the top corner from close range.

It was a reflection of Reading's frenzied start as they overran Coventry.

Ryan Bertrand tested Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, who was starting in place of the injured Kieren Westwood, with a left-footed shot.

Then Royals striker Simon Church offered only a feeble shot when through on goal.

The Reading frontman was among the worst offenders against the Foxes and again struggled to find a ruthless touch.

Coventry had chances of their own.

Ben Turner forced a block from Ivar Ingimarsson, who was returning from suspension, and goalkeeper Adam Federici fielded a Freddy Eastwood's volley.

Federici then pulled off a good save from defender Jermaine Grandison's forceful header.

Grandison was called into action at the other end, blocking Church's 20-yard effort as Reading continued to look the more dangerous.

McAnuff threatened to give the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead as he surged in from his station on the right and let fly a left-foot shot. But Konstantopoulos saved and Coventry survived.

However, Reading did not take long to extend their lead.

Again McAnuff made the difference.

Ingimarsson's corner was cleared by Grandison but only reached as far as a lurking McAnuff and the winger's shot soared into the top-left corner from 12 yards.

The Royals could have added to their lead but Rasiak's shot was save by Konstantopoulos.

With his team visibly struggling, Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman looked to his bench and top scorer Leon Best.

And the striker, on his return from injury, made an immediate impact.

He picked up possession on the right and located strike partner Eastwood, who fired past Federici from 20 yards.

Jack Cork had already forced Federici to tip a stinging shot over the bar as Coventry fought to hard.

But Sky Blues' rising hopes of an equaliser plummeted when Rasiak followed up McAnuff's shot, which had rebounded off the post, to restore Reading's two goal advantage.

The goal knocked any ambition out of Coventry and they failed to mount so much as an attack in the closing stages.

Teams:

Coventry Konstantopoulos, Clarke, Cranie, Turner,Van Aanholt (Hussey 73), Grandison, Gunnarsson (Osbourne 57),Cork, McIndoe (Best 57), Eastwood, Morrison.

Subs Not Used: Ireland, Ward, Bell, Madine.

Booked: Hussey.

Goals: Eastwood 64.

Reading Federici, Tabb, Ingimarsson, Pearce, Bertrand,McAnuff, Howard (Karacan 68), Matejovsky, Sigurdsson,Church (Long 56), Rasiak.

Subs Not Used: Hamer, Cisse, Gunnarsson, Cummings, O'Dea.

Goals: Rasiak 1, McAnuff 54, Rasiak 72.

Att: 15,165

Ref: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).