Two goals from Nicky Forster and a first of the season from skipper Adie
Williams enabled Reading to leaprog Sheffield United into third place in the
Division One table.
It was a thoroughly deserved fourth successive victory and leaves the Royals
10 points behind Leicester, who currently occupy the second automatic promotion
spot.
The hosts have now lost their last three league games but it all looked rosy
when they went ahead after just three minutes through Michael Brown's 12th
strike of the campaign.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who has been in terrific form this season, curled
home a brilliant free-kick into the top right-hand corner of the Reading goal
after Dean Windass had been hauled down 25 yards out by Williams.
The lead was almost doubled just four minutes later but American goalkeeper
Marcus Hahnemann made a wonderful low save to his left following Stuart McCall's
stinging right-foot volley from outside the area.
The visitors threatened for the first time after 15 minutes, with left-back
Nicky Shorey allowed time and space before firing a low drive wide of Paddy
Kenny's left-hand post from 20 yards.
Windass muscled himself into a good position as play switched to the other end
but, as he prepared to shoot from a tight angle, experienced defender Steve
Brown made a vital block.
The hosts continued to create chances and after 23 minutes, Brown's looping
far-post header following Phil Jagielka's excellent cross dropped just over the
crossbar.
However, Reading came close to levelling shortly after when Shorey's
whipped-in free-kick from the right deceived everyone except for Kenny, who made
a fine save to divert the ball behind for a corner.
The equaliser finally arrived after 34 minutes. Andy Hughes showed an
impressive turn of speed as he ran from deep before firing in a shot that was
only half blocked by Robert Page which allowed Forster to nip in and slot the
ball home from six yards.
The Blades were then forced into a change when Windass hobbled off to be
replaced by 34-year-old striker Wayne Allison seven minutes before the break.
Reading, who gained revenge for their 2-0 loss when the sides met at the
Madejski Stadium in December, started the second period brightly with on-loan
Manchester United star Luke Chadwick posing problems with his mazy runs.
But it was the home side who could have restored their advantage after 51
minutes, Brown skipping past a couple of challenges before curling a right-foot
shot over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Alan Pardew's men continued to look the better side and Forster turned Wales
international Page smartly before testing Kenny with a low drive just before the
hour.
Hughes, James Harper and Steven Sidwell were dictating affairs in the middle
of the park for the visitors, who made their first change when John Salako was
replaced by 20-year-old Nathan Tyson after 63 minutes.
Paul Peschisolido came on for the disappointing Steve Kabba as Neil Warnock
sought some fresh impetus but Tyson almost put Reading ahead with a rising
angled drive that Kenny did well to keep out.
Page made a last-gasp challenge to deny Hughes as chances continued to flow
for the visitors before Warnock made his final change with Marcel Cas coming on
for his debut in place of Jean-Phillipe Javary.
Hughes was again denied by the outstanding Kenny after 73 minutes but, from
the resulting corner, Reading took the lead they deserved.
Former Notts County player Hughes had a piledriver from 20 yards superbly
parried by Kenny but Williams was on hand to lift the rebound into the roof of
the net from an acute angle.
The game was made safe with 10 minutes left when the speedy Tyson went clear
down the left and his low cross was expertly turned in by Forster for his 10th
goal of the season.
He almost completed a hat-trick in the closing stages but headed Chadwick's
cross narrowly wide.
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