Kenny Miller fired in his 19th goal of the season to give Wolves a crucial victory against fellow play-off chasers Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Mark Kennedy's cross from the left was volleyed against the post by Nathan Blake and Miller followed up the rebound from close range.

Shaun Newton also wheeled away in delight, claiming the goal, but former Rangers forward Miller was given the vote.

The Royals could have been in front after only 21 seconds when Nathan Tyson struck the upright with a rising left-foot drive from inside the area.

Former Arsenal trainee Steve Sidwell tried his luck from 20 yards, but failed to test Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray before the visitors carved open a chance of their own.

Striker Blake, in the starting line-up after recovering from a back injury, showed great strength in shrugging off a defender, but shot into the sidenetting from a tight angle with no back-up emerging from the midfield.

Luke Chadwick, who will be staying at Reading until the end of the season, nearly put the Royals in front but his header from a Nicky Shorey cross was well saved by Murray on eight minutes.

But a better chance fell to Nicky Forster moments later when he was surprised to find himself clean through on goal, but the former Birmingham striker shot the wrong side of the post.

The visitors gradually upped the tempo and should have broken the deadlock on 19 minutes when Blake played in Miller, who struck Marcus Hahnemann full in the face with a fierce shot from close range, with the ball running out to safety.

Wolves nearly went ahead after 31 minutes as Miller headed Kennedy's cross firmly into the ground, but Hahnemann acrobatically tipped the ball over the crossbar to keep the scores level.

The visitors should have extended their lead after the break when Kennedy delivered a perfect cross only for the impressive Hahnemann to keep out Blake's header from six yards.

Royals boss Alan Pardew made a couple of substitutions on 63 minutes, with Sidwell and Tyson coming off for John Salako and Darius Henderson - and the home side immediately began to look more dangerous.

First, Murray made a great fingertip save to keep out Steve Brown's header from just outside the area and the defender had a header cleared off the line by Alex Rae from the resulting corner.

Hahnemann again had to be on his toes to keep out Colin Cameron's 72nd-minute piledriver from 25 yards, while Kennedy also forced the United States international into action moments later.

Wolves looked solid in defence, but nearly conceded the equaliser as Chadwick laid the ball back to Andy Hughes, whose tantalising cross was inches away from the boot of Forster.

Murray pulled off another save seconds from time to deny Kevin Watson as Reading pressed for the leveller, but Dave Jones' men held on to cement sixth place in the table.

Teams

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Brown, Mackie, Chadwick, Hughes, Harper (Watson 79), Sidwell (Salako 64), Tyson (Henderson 64), Forster.

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Viveash.

Wolves: Murray, Irwin, Naylor, Butler, Lescott, Newton, Rae, Cameron (Clyde 90), Kennedy, Blake (Proudlock 79), Miller (Sturridge 87).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Cooper.

Goals: Miller 44.

Att: 19,731

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).