Reading kept the automatic promotion dream well and truly alive this afternoon with a vital home victory over Notts County in front of a decent crowd at the Madejski Stadium. The attendance of 11,624 was made up of nearly all home support but the travelling fans in the South Stand will have left knowing that this defeat effectively ends their hopes of the play-offs this season. The home fans on the other hand had reason to celebrate with Millwall dropping a couple of points by only drawing today. Reading's victory means we are now just one point off the automatic promotion places - and with a game in hand.

Reading's victory was another deserved victory - but it was hardly an amazing game. The first half was one of the worst seen at the Madejski Stadium this season - it was so bad that a large number of home fans booed their side off the pitch at half time. Thankfully the second half was a completely different story as Reading stepped up a gear looking for the win. Reading looked dangerous right from the start of the second half and after going two up it looked like it was going to be a question of how many we'd win by. Notts County scored completely against the run of play with ten minutes remaining - and it was more than enough to set up a nervous finish as Reading clung onto their lead with County in the hunt for a share of the points.

Reading's starting line-up saw Cureton played from the start again up front with Butler. Caskey was also given a start with Murty pushed back into a full back position and Ricky Newman left out on the bench. Another notable inclusion on the bench was Nicky Forster returning from a long term injury that's kept him out all season long. Forster appeared late in the second half to replace Cureton, and it was clear he's lost none of his speed during his long lay-off. With Forster back and Adie Williams also on the verge of re-appearing in the first team line-up there'll be some hot competition for places as Reading chase promotion. Once again today it was Cureton and Butler that grabbed the goals - and Rougier that made a big difference after appearing at half time. It's going to be hard to find a place for Forster in the starting eleven - but either way we're going to be left with the strongest subs bench in the division.

After last weeks disappointment against Bristol City, the Royals were due another home win. With Swindon beaten in midweek Reading were firm favourites for victory. However everyone was expecting a much better game that we were presented with during the first half. Reading enjoyed most of the possession thanks to Phil Parkinson who was once again determined to win every single ball he got near. But we were then wasting our possession and were all too willing just to pump it forward. With County content to defend and clear the ball whenever they won it back, the first half was nothing other than a big hoofing session with the ball bouncing all over the place in the air. Caskey played a couple of really nice balls forward to players feet - but then let himself down with a couple more balls that failed to find their targets. But he definately wasn't the only one - with the whole side content to just whack it forwards rather than play it on the ground.

The best chances of the first half came from Graeme Murty - getting forward well down the right wing. He put in a couple of nice crosses that created some half decent chances to score. Perhaps the best of the half came midway through when Murty found Jimmy McIntyre at the far post. McIntyre's low shot was wide of the target though and their keeper didn't need to make the save. The half time whistle probably couldn't have come soon enough with County continuing to defend and Reading failing to find any route through.

Tony Rougier came on at half time and Reading seemed to look instantly more dangerous. After only one corner during the first half Reading won three corners in a row just after the break - and looked dangerous from each of them. Murty got a shot in that was deflected wide and we had two chances to stick it in at the near post after County failed to clear. Reading's pressure on the County goal paid off ten minutes into the half when Caskey picked up the ball in the middle of the County half. Caskey knocked it down the right wing finding Jamie Cureton running onto it. Cureton played in a low cross towards the centre of the edge of the six yard box - and there was Martin Butler to connect and sent the ball into the roof of the net. 1-0 to Reading - just the breakthrough we needed.

At 1-0 up Reading looked a completely different side from the first half as we looked to extend the lead. Caskey had a couple of free kicks just outside the area - he managed to get both on target but failed to find the net. Their keeper made an excellent save for the second one when it looked to be heading into the top corner. Cureton, Rougier and Butler all had shots on, or close on, target before we eventually made it 2-0 with fifteen minutes to go. Harper played the ball through to the edge of the area, leaving Cureton and the County keeper in a race for the ball. Cureton got there first on the edge of the box to touch it wide to the keeper's left. With the keeper stranded Cureton ran on to collect the ball. For a moment it looked like he'd taken it far too wide out on the right - but then he shot right across goal to bury the ball in the opposite side netting. 2-0, and the win looked to be settled.

In true Reading style we then failed to get the third to seal the win, and instead County scored one against the run of play with ten minutes remaining. County broke down the left, fired in a shot which bounced out in the middle of the area. Owers made no mistake with the rebound to make it 1-2. The last five minutes were always going to be tense - and we had Whitehead to thank after he pulled off a good save to push the ball wide from a shot just inside the area. Whitehead also came well to hold a couple of crosses and prevent any further danger. After a period of injury time that seemed like hours Reading had pulled off another vital victory by a margin of a single goal. It's all about winning at the moment - let's hope we can grind out another at Luton on Tuesday night. It could put us second in the table.
Graham

Following report from Neil Cole:
An impressive second half display by Reading gave the Royals another win, as play-off hopefuls Notts County were beaten 2-1. After a very forgettable first half, Reading were at their best in the second period and deserved maximum points against a decent County side. The match had it customary nervous ending, as Reading gifted a goal to their opponents towards the end - but they couldn't find an equaliser and so Reading moved even closer to the second automatic promotion spot.

Reading are currently chasing Millwall for second place, and Mark McGhee's men could only manage a goal-less draw at Walsall. The Lions seems to have lost their scoring touch, and these results mean Reading can now overtake them if they win the game in hand. That seemed unthinkable in January after Millwall had beaten us at the Madejski, but a dramatic turnaround in form means the Royals now look more likely to win automatic promotion.

Alan Pardew decided to change things around, after the defeat against Bristol City and the poor display at Swindon. Graeme Murty returned once more to right-back, and Darren Caskey was back in the team again at right midfield. In defence, Adi Viveash made a welcome return and Hunter was back on the bench. Jamie Cureton kept his place up front after scoring the winner at Swindon, despite the availability of Tony Rougier who was named as a substitute. The changes didn't seem to improve things though, and the first half was a very poor display of football. All of Reading's passes seemed to be going astray, and Butler and Cureton were unable to find a shot on target between them. Caskey tried to dominate things, as all of Reading's moves seemed to go through him on the right. Yet his passing was poor, and he was unable to create the opening Reading so badly needed.

The one bright point of the first half was the performance of James Harper, who once again looked very good. He has the defensive capabilities that our midfield was lacking before his arrival, and together with Parky he managed to stop any threat coming from the County midfield. This meant that despite Reading's poor showing in the first 45 minutes, they didn't look in any danger from their opponents either.

Fortunately things changes in the second half, as Reading went on the attack right from the start. Anthony Rougier came on at half-time for Jim McIntyre, and immediately posed a threat with his pace and trickery down the left. Reading won a series of corners, as the County goal came under sustained pressure. Although nothing came of the set pieces, it wasn't long before the Royals had the lead. Jamie Cureton picked up the ball on the right, and made a great run into the box. After Butler had set him up for the goal at Swindon, Cureton returned the favour with a great cross to his partner who made no mistake. Butler has re-discovered his scoring touch in March, and this was a fitting way for him to end the month.

Away from home, we have seen Reading go on the defensive after taking the lead. There was none of this today though, as Reading produced some of the best attacking football we have seen for a while at the Madejski. It was the sort of performance with which we won games by four or five goals earlier in the season, and it could easily have been the same today. Caskey had a free-kick well saved by the County keeper, before the lead was doubled. A great ball from Harper sent Cureton away, who rounded the keeper before finishing well from a tight angle.

Two goals up and playing well, the game should have been over there and then. However, Reading somehow let their opponents back in the game, as substitute Barry Hunter allowed their forward too much room in the box. His shot was parried by Whitehead, but Owers was on hand to score from the rebound. The away fans finally made some noise, and it could have been worse for us as County immediately had another dangerous attack, but this time the shot his the side netting.

There was some good news for Reading shortly after the County goal, as Nicky Forster made his first appearance of the season after a long injury lay-off. The return of Forster gives us yet more attacking options, and he looked very bright in the ten minutes he was on the pitch. His best asset was always his pace, and Forster immediately showed he had lost none of it as he made a run at the County defence. In truth he should have passed to the unmarked Butler, but instead he went for glory with a shot which sailed over the bar.

Three minutes of very nervous injury time were played, as Reading held out for another win. We now have the chance to get into the top two for the first time in ages, with a trip to Luton on Tuesday. Millwall have a tricky game against Stoke, and the right results could see us in second place, just a point behind leaders Rotherham.

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