Steve Coppell's 1,000th game as a manager ended in delight as Dave Kitson's late strike secured a narrow victory over Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium.

A scrappy game appeared set to end goalless until Kitson curled home a delightful left-footed shot from 12 yards with nine minutes remaining.

The victory takes Reading to within four points of second-placed Birmingham with a game in hand, while leaders Wolves are now only seven points clear of Coppell's men.

A scrappy first half provided little excitement as both sides struggled to create chances.

However, things improved after the break and there were numerous opportunities at each end before Kitson secured victory for the visitors late on.

The result was harsh on a spirited Doncaster side, who more than matched their high-flying opponents throughout.

Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll made just one change to the side which lost 2-0 to Birmingham at the weekend, with Adam Lockwood coming in at centre-half for Sam Hird.

Kevin Doyle and Jimmy Kebe were recalled to the Reading side to form a three-man attack with Kitson.

Marek Matejovsky and Andre Bikey also started as Royals boss Coppell made four changes from Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Ipswich.

The visitors created the first chance of the game in the ninth minute, but a stretching Kitson could only head tamely towards Neil Sullivan following Doyle's excellent cross from the right.

Bikey then came to Reading's rescue after 15 minutes, sliding in to steal the ball away from Paul Heffernan as the Rovers striker looked to tuck away James Coppinger's low cross.

More good work from Coppinger presented Heffernan with another opportunity in the 20th minute, but on this occasion his shot was well blocked by Michael Duberry.

At the other end Brynjar Gunnarsson saw a powerful long-range effort blocked after excellent build-up play involving Kitson and James Harper.

Kitson also saw another weak header comfortably saved as a dour first half drew to a close.

Both sides picked up the pace after the interval in search of a crucial opening goal.

The visitors looked likely to provide it after 56 minutes, only for Matt Mills to deny Harper with a superb block after the Reading skipper had latched on to Matejovsky's pass.

Rovers suffered a blow on the hour mark as the impressive Coppinger was stretchered off following a seemingly innocuous challenge with Kitson.

Dean Shiels came on in Coppinger's place and the Northern Ireland forward almost made an immediate impact with a superb cross that just evaded Heffernan at the far post.

Harper wasted another opportunity for Coppell's men in the 67th minute, lifting a left-footed shot over the crossbar following a magnificent jinking run from Kebe.

Doncaster then went close again in the 70th minute when a superb counter-attack ended with Brian Stock dragging his shot wide from 15 yards.

The visitors saw furious appeals for a penalty rejected in the 80th minute as Kebe tumbled in the box as he was about to pull the trigger.

A minute later, however, the Royals were celebrating as Kitson opened the scoring after Chris Armstrong's pass had found him unmarked in the area.

Rovers pushed for a late equaliser, but Reading saw out the remaining minutes with relative comfort to claim a valuable three points.

Teams

Doncaster Sullivan, Chambers, Mills, Lockwood, Roberts, Spicer, Stock, Wellens, Woods, Coppinger (Shiels 60), Heffernan.

Subs Not Used: Hird, Hayter, Van Nieuwstadt, Wilson.

Booked: Shiels.

Reading Hahnemann, Rosenior, Bikey, Duberry, Armstrong, Gunnarsson, Matejovsky, Harper, Kebe (Stephen Hunt 84), Kitson (Long 89), Doyle.

Subs Not Used: Federici, Cisse, Tabb.

Booked: Matejovsky, Stephen Hunt.

Goals: Kitson 82.

Att: 10,393

Ref: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).