Cardiff boosted their chances of playing Coca-Cola Championship football next season with a crucial victory over play-off hopefuls Reading.

Peter Thorne and Cameron Jerome netted first-half goals for Lennie Lawrence's relegation-threatened side as they dominated against their lethargic opponents at Ninian Park.

The Royals never recovered from a poor start to the match as they slipped to their 12th defeat of the campaign.

West Ham's draw at Brighton provided a double blow for Steve Coppell's team as the Hammers drew level with them on 70 points and went into sixth position on goal difference.

Both managers kept faith with their starting XIs after respectable performances in midweek. Reading kept their promotion dreams alive with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, while Cardiff battled to a 1-1 draw at Leicester.

The hosts started brightly and Richard Langley fired an early warning shot to the Royals by drilling an 18-yard shot over the crossbar after just 90 seconds.

Reading approached the game having won just six away league games over the course of the season and it showed from the first whistle as they struggled to settle in the opening stages.

Coppell's side failed to muster a shot on goal in the first 10 minutes and paid the price when they fell behind in the 12th minute. Thorne connected with a deep cross from former Wimbledon winger Neil Ardley to drill his 14th goal of the season past a stationary Marcus Hahnemann.

The goal finally sparked the visitors into life but they continued to struggle in the final third.

Paul Brooker connected with a James Harper cross in the 24th minute as Reading created their first chance of the match, but could find no way past Bluebirds keeper Neil Alexander.

Thorne went in search of his second with an 18-yard drive on the half-hour mark, before Cardiff doubled their advantage just seconds later. The Reading defence failed to clear following a corner, leaving Jerome to slam home his first home goal since boxing day.

The young striker went close again after 38 minutes but it remained 2-0 at the break.

Coppell threw former England international into the action when the match restarted in an attempt to lift his flagging troops.

But again it was the hosts who came out fighting as Willie Boland clattered a 20-yard drive over the bar before former Burnley winger Glenn Little was also introduced by the Reading manager.

Thorne struck a post in the 58th minute as Cardiff looked to extend their lead but the extra goal was not needed as Lawrence's side held on for a crucial victory.

Teams

Cardiff Alexander, Vidmar (Williams 28), Gabbidon, Collins, Barker, Ardley, Boland, Langley, McAnuff, Jerome (Lee 79), Thorne.

Subs Not Used: Margetson, Parry, Ledley.

Goals: Thorne 12, Jerome 30.

Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Keown, Sonko, Shorey, Newman (Ferdinand 45), Sidwell, Harper, Brooker (Little 51), Forster, Kitson.

Subs Not Used: Hughes, Ingimarsson, Young.

Booked: Sidwell, Keown, Little.

Att: 14,821

Ref: S Mathieson (Cheshire).