Play-off chasers Reading moved four points clear of seventh-placed West Ham with a battling win against 10-man Nottingham Forest.

The Royals had struggled to break down stubborn Forest, who desperately needed a win to give themselves an outside chance of averting the drop, until the game turned on its head 20 minutes from time.

First, Forest goalkeeper Paul Gerrard, booked in the first half for dissent, handled Andy Melville's back-pass outside the area and was sent off.

Les Ferdinand's free-kick cannoned against the wall, but from Reading's next attack the ball was sent into the box.

Ferdinand's header struck the hand of Gareth Taylor, but James Harper ignored the appeals of his team-mates to rifle the ball past Colin Doyle into the top corner from seven yards out.

Forest began the brighter of the two sides without testing Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

Darryl Powell fed the ball to James Perch, who picked out Forest marksman Scott Dobie 25 yards out after just six minutes.

Former West Brom striker Dobie, back in the side because of injuries to Alan Rogers and David Thompson, fired in a great shot on the turn which just whistled past the post.

The Royals were struggling to find their rhythm, although Nicky Shorey had the Forest defence panicking with a testing half-volley into the danger zone which was deflected away for a corner by Taylor.

But Steve Coppell's men gradually started to take command and nearly took the lead midway through the half after Forest had survived a couple of scares.

Skipper Graeme Murty's superb through-ball found Steve Sidwell, whose right-footed shot flashed across the face of the goal but just missed the far post with keeper Gerrard looking well beaten.

Murty forced Gerrard into making a comfortable save in the 27th minute before Martin Keown nearly put Reading in front.

After a short corner routine Shorey delivered a great cross on to the head of Keown, preferred ahead of Ivar Ingimarsson in the only change to the side that beat Sunderland, but his header was superbly clawed away by Gerrard.

But Forest finished the half brightly with Paul Evans just clearing the crossbar and Hahnemann doing well to keep out a cross from Dobie with Commons and Gardner lurking.

However the best chance of the half came in the final minute when impressive defender Shorey delivered a great free-kick but Gerrard did brilliantly to get down low to keep out Dave Kitson's header.

Reading made a bright start to the second half as Gerrard did well to hold on to Nicky Forster's shot from the edge of the area which bounced just in front of the Forest keeper with Kitson breathing down his neck.

Forest rallied as Commons and Gardner combined to set up Dobie, whose first attempt was blocked by Shorey but his fierce follow-up just cleared the crossbar.

Coppell was forced into make a change in the 50th minute when Ricky Newman suffered a nasty-looking injury in a challenge with Powell with former Burnley midfielder Glen Little coming on as his replacement.

Royals midfielder Kevin Harper stabbed an effort just wide of the upright, before Les Ferdinand was introduced as a replacement for Paul Brooker with 25 minutes to go in an attacking 3-4-3 formation.

Forest's hopes suffered a devastating blow when Gerrard was sent off, with his replacement Doyle's first task of the afternoon picking the ball out of the back of the net.

Chances were at a premium after Reading broke the deadlock, with Forest unable to find a reply and now needing a miracle to avoid relegation.

Teams

Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Keown, Sonko, Harper, Brooker (Ferdinand 66), Sidwell, Newman (Little 51), Kitson (Hughes 85), Forster.

Subs Not Used: Ingimarsson, Young.

Booked: Sidwell.

Goals: Harper 74.

Nottm Forest Gerrard, Louis-Jean, Perch, Morgan, Taylor, Melville, Gardner, Evans, Powell (Harris 75), Commons (Doyle 72), Dobie (Bopp 85).

Subs Not Used: Doig, Hjelde.

Sent Off: Gerrard (71).

Booked: Gerrard, Gardner.

Att: 17,905

Ref: S Tanner (S Gloucestershire).