Reading's 1-1 draw at Leicester's Walkers Stadium proved good enough to guarantee the Royals automatic promotion to the Premiership

Iain Hume's first-half strike gave the hosts an interval advantage but Kevin Doyle's late equaliser earned the visitors a point and automatic promotion as Watford were beaten at home by Millwall and Leeds drew with Stoke at Elland Road.

The tone for a thrilling encounter had been set as early as the first minute when the visitors went on the offensive through Bobby Convey, who crossed from the left wing with Doyle then only denied a shooting opportunity by Alan Maybury.

In the 10th minute Doyle threatened to burst clear before being tackled by Paddy McCarthy with the Foxes then streaming upfield where Hume forced a save from Marcus Hahnemann.

Doyle was denied by McCarthy once more as the Reading frontman shaped to shoot from the edge of the City penalty area before Hahnemann was again forced to tip around the woodwork at the cost of a corner as Matty Fryatt's effort was palmed away.

Next Fryatt forced a corner but Gareth Williams' eventual header was comfortably saved before Joey Gudjonsson chanced his arm but fired wide from 30 yards.

Brynjar Gunnarsson was the first name in referee Clive Penton's notebook after a 33rd-minute foul on Stephen Hughes before Convey fired over Leicester keeper Paul Henderson's crossbar from a 20-yard free-kick.

The deadlock was broken in the 37th minute after dogged persistence, plus no little skill and vision, from Fryatt set free strike partner Hume who slotted home from 12 yards out.

Fryatt seized on Ibrahima Sonko's miscued header, jinked infield from the Leicester right and picked out Canada international Hume, who curled a right-footed effort past the exposed Hahnemann.

Moments later - after Ivar Ingimarsson had been booked for a foul on Hume - Gudjonsson hit the foot of Hahnemann's post from a 20-yard free-kick.

In the second half the Royals immediately found themselves under more pressure as Gudjonsson shot once and then, in the 50th minute, had another long-range effort which looked to have beaten the Reading goalkeeper only for Hahnemann's outstretched left boot to deflect the ball to safety.

At the other end Henderson saved at the feet of Gunnarsson before hurling himself to his left as Convey's effort was blocked after Hume had gifted possession in midfield.

Reading manager Steve Coppell made a double substitution on the hour as Shane Long and Steve Sidwell replaced John Oster and Gunnarsson, with the tactical switch bringing immediate dividends as Leicester came under increasing pressure, much of it aerial.

But Sonko could only head over with 22 minutes remaining before McCarthy headed wide from a Gudjonsson corner at the other end.

With five minutes remaining a James Harper corner was flicked on by Ingimarsson and Doyle nodded home a near-post equaliser.

Teams:

Leicester Henderson, Stearman, McCarthy, Kisnorbo, Johansson,Maybury, Gudjonsson, Williams, Hughes, Hume (Welsh 84),Fryatt (O'Grady 78).

Subs Not Used: Gerrbrand, Douglas, Hammond.

Booked: Hume.

Goals: Hume 38.

Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey,Oster (Long 61), Harper, Gunnarsson (Sidwell 61),Convey (Hunt 80), Kitson, Doyle.

Subs Not Used: Stack, Makin.

Booked: Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson.

Goals: Doyle 85.

Reading are promoted

Att: 25,578

Ref: C Penton (Sussex).