Reading 2 (Kitson 53, Long 84)
Newcastle 1 (Duberry og 74)

Supersub Shane Long scored a late winner with only his second touch to give Reading a dramatic and fully-deserved three points against Newcastle today.

Steve Coppell's men were on top throughout the game, and Leroy Lita missed two key chances in the first half, including one absolute sitter.

Newcastle should have had a penalty as Michael Owen was fouled by Marcus Hahnemann, but that was United's only real moment in the first half.

Reading continued to press after the break, and Dave Kitson scored a wonderful goal from 20 yards. Kitson was superb throughout, and fully deserved his goal.

United got a fortunate equaliser though when Michael Duberry turned into his own net, but once again we bounced back.

The immense Ibrahima Sonko flicked on a free kick, and Long took a touch then smacked home, just seconds after being introduced.

There were heroes all over the pitch for Reading, with Kevin Doyle playing a huge part on the right wing.

Arguably our best performance of the season so far, and three fully deserved points

Reading: Hahnemann; Murty (c) (Rosenior 85), Shorey, Duberry, Sonko; Gunnarsson, Harper, Doyle, Hunt; Kitson, Lita (Long 83)
Subs: Federici, Ingimarsson, Convey

Newcastle: Given; Beye, Enrique, Cacapa, Faye (Milner 74); Barton, Butt (N'Zogbia 57), Geremi (c), Emre; Owen, Martins (Smith 57)
Subs: Harper, Rozehnal
Booked: Faye (foul 71)

Ref: P Dowd

Attendance: 24,119

First half
Leroy Lita made a very incisive run on five minutes to break the offside trap, and only a last-ditch block kept him at bay.

With 12 on the clock, Lita missed what can only be described as an absolute sitter. Right winger Kevin Doyle did well, and Lita was completely unmarked as the ball rolled to him eight yards out; the goal gaping.

He got his feet all wrong though, and tried to sidefoot home with his right, only to miss the ball completely and see it bounce off his standing leg. With Stephen Hunt also charging in behind him, it was a chance that Reading looked certain to take, but they were forced to regroup.

Then Newcastle had a chance of their own. A long right wing cross found Michael Owen, and his first touch was spot on, getting him in on goal. He got a shot off, and was surely fouled by Marcus Hahnemann, but Graeme Murty hacked clear off the line and referee Phil Dowd thankfully waved away the striker's appeal.

Reading continued to put together some good moves, and excellent crosses from Hunt and Murty were close to producing goals.

WIth Owen leading the line, United were a threat on the break, but Ibrahima Sonko put in one magnificent challenge as the England striker bore down on goal.

As the half drew towards a close, Reading seemed to be getting closer and closer to breaking the deadlock.

First Claudio Cacapa rolled a horrendous backpass beyond the onrushing Shay Given, but the keeper scrambled clear on the line.

Then Lita had another great chance. Doyle broke brilliantly, and held off three men to get in a wonderful cross. Hunt laid off for Lita, and he took a touch before smacking the bouncing ball miles over. Not as clear a chance as his earlier miss, but he would still normally hit the target.

Then seconds before the break Shorey curled a free kick a couple of feet over. Reading had been well on top, with some great chances. Newcastle should have had a penalty, but we had more than enough opportunities to be ahead.

Second half
Reading began the second half in the same upbeat manner, and on 53 minutes they had a fully-deserved goal.

Hunt found space down the left, and played it infield. Doyle and Brynjar Gunnarsson both tried to get it under control, but it came to Kitson, who produced a wonderful left-footed curling finish from 20 yards, giving Given no chance whatsoever.

In scoring, Kits equalled Nicky Forster's record of 36 Madejski Stadium goals, and he celebrated his strike by running into the arms of coach Wally Downes.

United made a double change to try to get back in the game, but it was Reading who then came closest to scoring. Kitson again found the breaking Doyle, and his cross was headed off target by Hunt.

Reading did not sit back on their lead, and Sonko had a great chance to mark his return with a goal, but decided to shoot first time when unmarked seven yards out.

With 16 minutes left, Newcastle got an equaliser that their play did not deserve.

Hunt dived in to concede a free kick by the corner flag on Reading's left. Emre drilled it in low, and Michael Duberry could only turn it home into his own net at the back post. It was harsh on the defender, but he had to get something on it with Owen closing in behind him.

Newcastle got a brief head of steam, and Hahnemann could only parry sub Charles N'Zogbia's shot, but thankfully it fell to Shorey.

But, after riding the brief storm, Reading took the lead again.

Shane Long came on for the tireless Lita, and immediately went upfield as Shorey prepared to take a free kick in his own half.

The delivery aimed for Sonko, and he battled for a header. It fell loose to Long, who chested then rifled just inside the post with his second touch. A fantastic introduction for the young Irishman, and for a second it looked like it had got away with him, but he rifled home for a vital goal.

Cacapa then had the ball in the net for United, but he was absolutely miles offside.

Reading held on without being tested, and it was quite possibly our best performance of the season.

Newcastle were never given room to play, and our workrate was matched by our quality.

An excellent performance, and one that gives us a huge lift after some difficult games in recent weeks.

Now it's a trip to Fulham, and we go there with renewed confidence and a stride in our step.