Reading 1 (Kitson 51)
Newcastle 0

Dave Kitson's second half strike kept the Royals in the hunt for Europe as we saw off Newcastle in an entertaining game.

Kitson scored the only goal on 51 minutes after an excellent team goal, including a brilliant dummy by John Oster, and we were worthy winners.

Newcastle had a couple of great chances to equalise, but Reading were the better team, especially in the second half.

Kevin Doyle had two very, very strong penalty shouts turned down, and Kitson was inches away from a second goal.

The Royals invited some United pressure onto themselves in the last few minutes with some sloppy play, but they held the upper hand for the majority of the encounter.

Their energy levels and sheer will to win gave the Toon defence all kinds of problems after the break.

Terry Venables was in attendance, and Nicky Shorey picked up Sky's man of the match award in front of the England assistant boss.

He will also have been pleased that Michael Owen looked sharp as he played the full 90 minutes, but the most important outcome from a Reading perspective was the crucial victory that puts us back in the UEFA Cup places.

Reading: Hahnemann; De La Cruz, Shorey, Duberry, Ingimarsson (c); Gunnarsson (Harper 89), Oster (Bikey 90), Seol, Hunt; Doyle, Kitson (Long 89)
Subs: Federici, Halford
Booked: Hunt, Kitson

Newcastle: Harper; Solano, Carr, Bramble, Taylor; Emre (N'Zogbia 60), Sibierski (Ameobi 54), Dyer, Milner; Martins, Owen
Subs: Srnicek, Onyewu, Carroll

Ref: M Riley

Attendance: 24,109

Full report
Newcastle had waited more than a year to see Michael Owen back in action, and in the first five minutes he was twice close to scoring, only to be denied by the offside flag. The first decision was actually incorrect, and the frontman looked very sharp after his long term absence.

Kevin Doyle then had a very good penalty shout turned down as he was blocked by Titus Bramble, but nothing was given. At the very least it was surely obstruction.

Our Irishman then nearly profited from a poor Steve Harper clearance, but Steven Taylor diverted it a foot wide. From the resulting corner, Michael Duberry hoiked a good chance over.

It was an open game between two passing sides, and Newcastle had a decent spell going into the break as James Milner shot narrowly over and Nicky Shorey almost put through his own net.

Seconds before the break ref Mike Riley incurred the light-hearted wrath of the home fans as he asked Kingsley to move away from the side of the pitch and stop getting in the linesman's eyeline!

Second half
Five minutes into the second half Reading took the lead with a lovely team goal.

Stephen Hunt won the ball back in typically energetic fashion, and released Doyle. He in turn did well to find Seol Ki-Hyeon, and the Korean put in a decent cross to the back post.

John Oster brilliantly dummied, and Dave Kitson took a touch then smashed home an unstoppably volley.

United sub Shola Ameobi had a great chance to square it up straight away, but headed right at Marcus Hahnemann when completely unmarked.

Reading's energy levels and persistence were giving the visitors all kinds of problems, and they were all at sea at the back.

Doyle put in some great work to release Kitson, and the striker prodded just a foot wide.

The Royals were very much turning the screw, and Doyle had another huge penalty shout when Nolberto Solano was all over him - one arm was pulling him, and the other was across his face!

Down the other end James Milner curled an effort only a foot wide, and they looked reasonably dangerous on the rare occasions they got forward.

Brynjar Gunnarsson showed great feet to create a chance for himself, but Harper was equal to it.

In front of the watching Terry Venables, Nicky Shorey had been as impressive as always, but he couldn't add a goal to his display as his free kick curled just over.

Obafemi Martins had another great chance with a free header, but nodded the golden opportunity wide.

Reading were guilty of giving the ball away late in the game, and in doing so they put pressure on themselves.

It was a nervy five minutes of injury time, but the Royals held on for three valuable points.

Reading had edged it, and 1-0 was a fair result. Newcastle will rightly point to some good chances, but they were not clinical enough in front of goal to get anything from the game.

Highlights on World
Ten minutes of video highlights, as well as Coppell's press conference, are live on Reading World now.