Under new manager Caldwell, struggling Wigan had recently begun to pick up points to boost hopes of avoiding the drop, and this afternoon they dominated possession during the opening five minutes with good pressing and passing. Reading made a sluggish start, but then, against the run of play, took an early the lead. With Randell Williams having joined the growing list of injured players, Doyle was deployed on the right wing, and the ninth minute, delivered a perfect cross for Ehibhatiomhan to beat Tickle with close range header.

Ehibhatiomhan's recent improvement, since Marriott's injury has forced Liam Ricahrdson select him to lead the attack, has been quite remarkable. The timing of his run and his header was perfect. His new-found willingness to attack balls played into the box has now yielded three headed goals in the past six games. Growing into the role he is looking sharper with his back to goal coming to meet the ball when played in to his feet. Scoring six goals in six games, he has grown in confidence, as illustrated by a mazy run through the Wigan defence, only to become slightly exasperated when Doyle took the ball took the ball off him to curl a shot wide of the post.

Doyle was causing havoc playing in his temporary advanced position and went on a weaving run and slipped a superb ball into the box for Savage who saw his attempted pass to Ehibhatiomhan (again making a well -timed run into the box) deflected into his own net by Aimson. Mysteriously Doyle faded as the first half progressed and was substituted at half time which possibly indicated an injury problem rather than a tactical change. Typically, Reading sat back after half time and allowed to their opponents dominate possession. Once again however, they scored against the run of play. Ehibhatiomhan, lurking on the edge the six-yard box he pounced to poke in his second goal to kill off any hopes of a Wigan revival following a Savage corner. The welcome return of Roberts presented Ehibhatiomhan with a chance of scoring a second hat trick of the month, but the cross came from a deeper angle, he got his timing slightly wrong, and his header drifted high and wide.

With the outcome virtually decided, the quality of the football deteriorated rapidly with both teams opting to hoof the ball forward with little regard for accuracy. It was left to Pereira to provide the entertainment. A heavy touch in front of his own goal forced him to chase the ball with Hungbo closing him down. With remarkable confidence, and a degree of recklessness, he opted for an outrageous, and high-risk, pirouette on the ball to retain possession and celebrated in style! Finally, in stoppage time, he denied former Royal Vickers a goal with a brilliant finger-tip save.

The win restored Reading's presence in the top six, albeit with a tough away game away at Huddersfield, a tough home encounter with league leaders Lincoln coming next. They are far from favourites for promotion, but it is still possible. The pressure and the burden of expectation rests on the teams above them, and anything can happens in the play-offs.

John Wells