Sheffield United 0
Reading 2 (Cisse 5, Doyle 44)

The Royals have dug out a very impressive 2-0 win at fourth placed Sheffield United this afternoon. You can read all about the victory with our kick-by-kick analysis below.

Sheff Utd: Kenny; Naughton, Jihai, Morgan, Kilgallon, Speed, Howard, Spring (Sharp HT), Quinn (Halford HT), Stokes (Henderson 78), Beattie.
Subs: Naysmith, Cotterill.
Yellow: Stokes.

Reading: Hahnemann; Rosenior, Armstrong, Bikey, Ingimarsson; Cisse, Harper (c), Kebe (Gunnarsson 68), S Hunt; Doyle, N Hunt (Long 75).
Subs: Andersen, Matejovsky, Henry.
Yellow: Kebe, Bikey, Armstrong.

Ref: M Oliver
Att: 25,065

Minute-by-minute

1 min - Good start from Reading. Jimmy Kebe releases Liam Rosenior down the right and he fizzes in a low cross towards Doyle at the near post. Chris Morgan slides in and blocks it to concede a corner.

2 mins - From the resultant corner the ball finds its way all the way to Bikey eight yards out and he tries to sidefoot a volley goalwards. He skies it over but that was a good chance.

5 mins - GOAL! Doyle does brilliantly to get to the byline down the left and cuts it back to the edge of the six yard box. Kalifa Cisse sweeps a first time left footed strike past Kenny and high into the back of the net! The Royals rewarded for an excellent start.

7 mins - Anthony Stokes goes over a Reading leg on the right side of the box and looks for a penalty. The referee blows his whistle but for a Reading free kick and he books Stokes for a dive.

10 mins - Kebe wins a corner on the right and Stephen Hunt whips it in. It comes to an unmarked Cisse who has to muster the power on a low header. He nods ot goalwards but it's headed awat only yards off his goalline by a Blades defender. Half a chance again. Poor marking from the hosts.

15 mins - A ball loops up on the right side of the Royals goal and Hahnemann comes for it. He misjudges it though and Stokes lifts it over him and high into the six yard box. The goal is gaping but Bikey spots the danger and rises majestically to nod it clear and avert the danger.

17 mins - James Beattie lets rip with a free kick that is 25 yards out. It's well struck but sailing over the bar.

26 mins - The home side have settled a little more now and are putting some attacks together. Marcus Hahnemann hasn't been too troubled yet though. It's going to be important for Reading to get that all important second goal again though!

29 mins - A good one two sees Hunt lay it into Chris Armstrong's path down the left. He whips a cross in from the byline but it's just beyond Noel Hunt at the near post and Kilgallong hacks it clear on the half volley.

33 mins - Doyle works it back to Kebe on the right wing and he crosses over everyone. It bounces once and falls to Armstrong by the corner of the area. He winds up to shoot but it floats over the bar as the left back fails to keep his effort down.

36 mins - Great work from Armstrong twice and the ball falls to Kames Harper with some space in front of him. He takes the opportunity to shoot and he hits a 22-yard effort well but Kenny saves at the second attempt.

42 mins - Ingimarsson is penalised for an aerial challenge and United have a free kick 35 yards out to the right. Is is a dangerous inswinger and Doyle has to follow his man in and head it over his own crossbar from only yards out. The corner comes in to the far post and it bounces just wide of the far post from a Blades head. They are threatening as this half comes to an end.

44 mins - Hunt has a free kick on the right and he delivers another fantastic ball into the box. Kevin Doyle is at full stretch to glance a near post header past Kenny from six yards out. Reading have a second before the break!

HALF TIME - The Royals have a two-goal cushion going into the break and are worthy of their lead. Composure and consistency in the second half should see the Royals home - but they may have to whether an early Blades storm in the second half first.

Double Sheff Utd substitution at the break. Ex-Royal Greg Halford is introduced for Quinn and Billy Sharp replaces Spring in midfield.

46 mins - Armstrong crosses from the left and Noel Hunt flicks it on at the near post. Kebe doesn't gamble and can't latch onto it as it bounces across the face of goal. Kenny collects it in the end.

48 mins - Sharp races away down the right and fizzes a low cross into the near post. Beattie is there to direct it goalwards and Hahnemann pulls off a great reaction save with his legs. Bikey hoofs it away from danger. United have started the half brightly.

52 mins - Stokes shoots from the left side of the box but it's charged down. Cisse makes a second block and concedes a corner eventually. Serious pressure from Kevin Blackwell's side now.

53 mins - Stokes sends a cross in from the left and Beattie gets in ahead of Armstrong at the far post. He bundles it goalwards and it bounces off the base of the right post. It ios scrambled away. Too easy for Beattie and he should have scored. Reading are clinging on a bit here.

55 mins - A careless pass from Bikey sees it land at Stokes' feet. He touches it onto his right boot and tries to arc a 20-yard effort into the far corner. But it drifts wide and Reading survive another scare.

59 mins - It's getting quite fiery here now. Bikey is shown a yellow for a late challenge in midfield and he has words with Gary Speed. Then Noel Hunt flies into a late challenge on Kilgallon up front as the ball ran loose.

66 mins - Bikey concedes a throw on the left which is hurled into the Royals box. Rosenior clears it well and Howard's drive through bodies is watched all the way and collected low in the middle of his goal by Hahnemann.

68 mins - Reading substitution. Gunnarsson is brought on for Kebe. Clearly Steve Coppell responds to the battling game that has developed in the second half.

74 mins - Gunnarsson is keeping the ball brilliantly and he slides a deft reverse pass into Noel Hunt on the right side of the box. He passes a cross into the six yard box but Morgan slides in to clear it only yards out.

75 mins - Reading substitution. Shane Long replaces Noel Hunt.

78 mins - Sheff Utd substitution. Former Royals youngster Darius Henderson has come on for Anthony Stokes.

80 mins - Armstrong's cross from the left is too deep for everyone but Hunt recycles it on the right. He fizzes in a low cross into the near post but it bounces once and into Kenny's arms.

81 mins - At the other end, Andre Bikey has to rise with Beattie only six yards out to put the striker off a header that skims just over the crossbar and onto the roof of the Royals' net.

82 mins - A penetrating run from Stephen Hunt ends with him trying to cut it back from the byline to Long, but it hits a United leg and bobbles behind. Moments later Hunt does shoot, driving from 25 yards but Kenny is behind it calmly.

83 mins - Still moments of danger at the other end. Billy Sharp strikes from the edge of the box and it's deflects just wide for a corner. From the set piece Morgan rises and nods it goalwards but Long heads it off his line. The whistle has gone for a push inside the box anyway!

88 mins - Great passing in the right corner sees Reading waste a bit of time before the cross is delivered from the byline. Long flicks it on and Doye is only yards out but a United head gets to it first to push it over the crossbar.

89 mins - A fairly innocuous Henderson cross is going to be headed clear by Cisse but he doesn't get a goot contact and it falls to Sharp. He shoots and Hahnemann parries with his legs. He gets up to have another go but this time it's deflected wide.

90(+2) mins - Bikey skies one onto the roof! Cheers come from the away support.

FULL TIME - Reading showed grit and determintation to see this game out and the goal just before half time made a big difference. A very impressive victory that keeps them clear of the chasing pack but sadly doesn't close the gap on the top two who both won.