Paul Dickov grabbed a brace as impressive Leicester saw off promotion rivals
Reading at the Madjeski Stadium to close the gap on leaders Portsmouth to two
points.
Foxes manager Mickey Adams signalled his side's attacking intentions by
starting with three up front, as Trevor Benjamin joined James Scowcroft and
Dickov in attack.
Reading had the first opportunity of the game, and City keeper Ian Walker did
well to turn aside Steven Sidwell's 20-yard strike in the opening exchanges.
Nicky Forster then ambitiously tried to lighten up a scrappy start to the
contest, but his right-foot effort from the edge of the area bounced harmlessly
wide of Ian Walker's right post.
While the Royals attack looked lively, the same could not be said for their
defence which allowed Dickov to grab his 13th goal of the season with
Leicester's first serious attack on 17 minutes.
Royals keeper Marcus Hahnemann only half cleared after an Alan Rogers cross,
and an unmarked Dickov produced a neat overhead kick to put his side ahead.
The visitors took control after that, and moments after Callum Davidson went
close from 25 yards, Dickov doubled his side's lead from the spot.
The former Arsenal forward converted a 24th-minute penalty after Royals
defender Steve Brown brought down Benjamin.
The decision by referee Mark Warren angered the home side, but not as much as
the official's free-kick award on 32 minutes which produced the Foxes third.
Sidwell was adjudged to have fouled Muzzy Izzet, and Dickov's resulting
free-kick was knocked back across the area by Matt Elliott for his defensive
partner Matt Heath to head home.
Royals striker Tony Rougier had a good chance to bring his side back in it
soon after, but he drilled wide from close range.
Reading were given a glimmer of hope nine minutes after the restart when Andy
Hughes scored after the impressive Sidwell saw his 25-yard shot blocked by
Elliott.
That goal prompted manager Alan Pardew to throw caution to the wind in search
of an unlikely point, and two minutes later he brought on strikers Martin Butler
and Jamie Cureton for midfield duo James Harper and Sammy Igoe.
The switch almost paid immediate dividends when Cureton picked up the ball on
the edge of the area, but his powerful drive went just past the left post.
Benjamin wasted a glorious chance to kill off the game on 74 when he was sent
clean through, but the forward rushed his shot and drilled wide.
The hosts piled forward late on, but could not find a way through a solid City
backline.
Teams:
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Williams, Brown (Newman 45), Shorey,
Igoe (Cureton 56), Sidwell, Harper (Butler 56), Hughes,
Forster, Rougier.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Tyson.
Booked: Williams, Hahnemann, Newman, Sidwell.
Goals: Hughes 54.
Leicester: Walker, Sinclair, Elliott, Heath, Rogers, Scowcroft,
Davidson, Izzet, Stewart, Dickov, Benjamin (Wright 83).
Subs Not Used: Flowers, Summerbee, Jones, Ashton.
Booked: Sinclair, Benjamin, Davidson.
Goals: Dickov 17, 26 pen, Heath 34.
Att: 17,156
Ref: M Warren (W Midlands).
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