Reading 2 (Kitson 29, Harper 90)
Wigan 1 (Bent 50)

The Royals took all three points against Wigan today thanks to James Harper's last-gasp goal.

Reading had taken the lead through Dave Kitson in the first half, the striker prodding home after Chris Kirkland's spill.

Wigan thought they'd been given a penalty a minute later, only for ref Keith Stroud to consult with his linesman and correctly award a free kick, which Jason Koumas crashed onto the bar.

Marcus Bent drew the visitors level after the break, nodding home from Koumas' corner.

Reading were the team pressing from then on, but Wigan spurned two clear chances.

First Bent was sent clear, only to be denied by a brilliant Duberry tackle.

Minutes later Julius Aghahowa strangely decided to stumble, rather than roll the ball into the net, when there was no contact made by the onrushing Hahnemann.

Then in the last minute, a piece of brilliance from Kitson sent Harper in, and he produced a cracking finish.

Kevin Doyle was close to making it 3-1, but we still had some defending to do in injury time as well.

It was a hugely welcome victory, and one we probably deserved, on the balance of play. We were the side pushing late on, and although Wigan had chances, we made the majority of the running.

Finally, Kitson's contribution cannot be underestimated, his goal and assist possibly proving priceless as we got back on track.

Reading: Hahnemann; Murty (c), Shorey, Duberry, Ingimarsson; Gunnarsson, Harper, Rosenior (Convey 63), Hunt, Doyle (Bikey 90), Kitson
Subs: Federici, Fae, Long
Booked: Ingimarsson (foul 30), Rosenior (foul 43), Hahnemann (ungentlemanly conduct 90)

Wigan: Kirkland; Melchiot (c), Kilbane, Bramble, Granqvist; Brown, Skoko, Scharner, Koumas; Bent, Sibierski (Aghahowa 79)
Subs: Pollitt, Boyce, Olembe, Cotterill
Booked: Brown (foul 35), Bramble (ungentlemanly conduct 90)

Attendance: 21,379

Ref: K Stroud

readingfc.co.uk man of the match: Dave Kitson

First half
Reading made the early running, and Kevin Doyle burst down the left on nine minutes after turning Andreas Granqvist. With men in the middle, the Irishman went for a cross-shot, and it was between post and man.

Home debutant Liam Rosenior had a very good chance on 17, going clear through one-on-one after Doyle's flick. The ex-Fulham man went for the near post, and Chris Kirkland made an important save.

Two minutes later Dave Kitson saw his goalbound header cleared from just under the bar, then Michael Duberry powered in at the back post from the corner, only to see his header go just wide.

Just before the half hour, Reading made their good play count.

Rosenoir fed a cross in to Doyle inside the area, and he did well to fight for room to shoot.

Kirkland looked set to easily gather, but it bounced off him and Kitson was on hand to turn home a real striker's goal.

Immediately though, Wigan were very close to drawing level.

Jason Koumas went on a scintillating run, and was brought down by Ivar Ingimarsson right on the edge of the box.

Referee Keith Stroud pointed to the spot for a penalty, but his attention was drawn to the linesman on the far side.

After consulting, Stroud gave a free kick, booked Ingimarsson, and the officials had got it spot on.

The danger was not over though, and Koumas smacked the set piece onto the bar, prompting an almighty scramble.

Wigan came more into it as half time approached, but overall Reading were worth their lead at the break.

Second half
The Latics quickly got themselves level, and not for the first time this season the Royals conceded quickly after half time.

Antoine Sibierski broke down the right, and only a late block prevented his cross from finding Marcus Bent.

From the resulting Koumas corner, Bent broke free of his marker and planted a powerful header past Marcus Hahnemann.

The game then became fairly even, with both sides getting forward.

Reading were pressing hards, and Kitson shot wide on the turn.

Bobby Convey was a lively influence after coming off the bench, and his cross was headed just wide by Stephen Hunt.

Then the American's low fizzed cross was just inches from the onrushing Kitson.

With ten minutes left again it was Convey causing problems, his cross looking for all the world like Duberry was going to score from it, but he headed back across goal and it was hacked clear.

Reading were doing all the pressing, but Brynjar Gunnarsson was dispossesed on halfway to give Bent a clear run at goal.

Duberry did brilliantly though, and his last-ditch challenge averted the danger.

With three minutes left a simple ball over the top gave sub Julius Aghahowa a great chance. Hahnemann came flying out, and made a sliding tackle.

Aghahowa was round him, and tried to go over, despite there seemingly being no contact, and he really should have continued and gone for goal, but thankfully he made the wrong decision.

Then, with just a minute left, Reading scored a second.

Kitson came short to collect a throw-in, and produced a brilliant turn to beat his man, then matched it with a wonderful pass to the onrushing James Harper.

Harper took a great touch, and placed a lovely right-footed finish in the near post to send the home crowd wild.

Then Doyle went clean through in search of a third, but he was crowded out.

We had some last ditch defending to do, and there were some scary moments from a couple of crosses, but thankfully we held on manfully.

It was a great result, and one that was much needed.