Doncaster 0
Reading 1 (Kitson 82)
Dave Kitson's cracking goal with eight minutes to goal earned an absolutely vital win for the Royals away to Doncaster Rovers in Steve Coppell's 1000th game.
Reading were the better side, and although Rovers dug in doggedly it was a deserved away victory for Coppell's team on what was a landmark occasion for our boss.
Coppell went with an attacking 4-3-3 formation and it more than paid dividends by bringing three points that put us right back in the hunt for automatic promotion.
Just as it looked like we may only pick up a draw, Kitson scored a cracking goal from 18 yards with eight minutes to go and sent our 700-strong travelling support into raptures.
Captain James Harper had earlier seen a couple of good opportunities go begging, and Rovers had chances of their own as well but were unable to break through our back line that was helped by the impressive Andre Bikey.
Coincidentally, Alex McLeish and Mick McCarthy were both among the crowd this evening, and they will go back to their respective clubs with a little more to ponder after a very good display and more importantly a fantastic result.
Doncaster (4-4-2): Sullivan; Chambers, Roberts, Lockwood, Mills; Stock (c), Wellens, Spicer, Woods; Coppinger (Sheils 60), Heffernan
Subs: Hird, Van Nieuwstadt, Wilson, Hayter
Booked: Shiels (foul 83)
Reading (4-3-3): Hahnemann; Rosenior, Armstrong, Bikey, Duberry; Gunnarsson, Harper (c), Matejovsky; Doyle, Kebe (S Hunt 84), Kitson (Long 89)
Subs: Federici; Cisse, Tabb
Booked: Matejovsky (foul 77), S Hunt (foul 88)
Attendance: 10,393 (754 away fans)
Ref: P Taylor
First half
The Royals had a good early chance with only eight minutes on the clock. Kevin Doyle got in a cracking cross from the right wing, and Dave Kitson got there first, but he couldn't direct it beyond Neil Sullivan and the 'keeper gathered.
Doncaster soon threatened down the other end, but Andre Bikey was in an excellent position to cut out the threat and prevent a golden opportunity for Paul Heffernan.
Reading were increasing the pressure, and a double backheel from James Harper and then Marek Matejovsky gave Brynjar Gunnarsson a shooting chance but his goalbound strike was blocked from outside the box.
The next effort on goal came from Kitson again, this time from a Chris Armstrong cross, but he and Doyle were probably in each other's way when going for the header.
It was a decent game, and Rovers were more than playing their part, Heffernan threatening on 34 minutes but just unable to get a touch on a fizzed cross at waist height.
Just before the break Kitson threatened yet again, a good outswinging Matejovsky free kick allowing him to head at goal but once more it was too close to Sullivan.
Second half
The second half continued in the same vein as both sides looked to get the ball down and play at every opportunity.
Harper had two good sights of goal around the hour mark, the first blocked desperately and effectively by Matthew Mills as it looked destined for the net.
The next chance came after a cracking Kebe run down the left wing, and Harper should have done better than to mishit well over from 18 yards when well placed.
Rovers were on the back foot, but almost caught us out with an opportunity on the break when Armstrong was beaten, but Brian Stock thankfully mishit.
Reading were having practically all the possession, and Kebe sidefooted a volley over with 15 minutes to go after a sustained period of possession around Rovers' box.
Kebe then thought he should have had a penalty when he looked to be pulled back in the box - but Rovers were saved by an offside flag. It was all Reading, although John Spicer got half a sight of goal from another quick attack.
Then finally, the goal came, and it was fully deserved.
Armstrong was played into space down the left, and played a good square pass for Kitson. The frontman struck it first time left footed, and it curled away from Sullivan into the far corner for a great finish; the keeper no chance at all.
Kitson celebrated joyously with our bench, and after a good team performance it was a huge relief to him and the 754 Reading fans who made the trip north.
Kitson was then on the end of a wild challenge from sub Dean Shiels as he kept the ball on halfway, and the Rovers man could well have seen red but was only booked.
The home side had a couple of late bursts forward, first when Heffernan's header was easily saved, and later when Hahnemann flapped at a free kick but luckily fell on it.
When the final whistle came it was a huge relief and a brilliant feeling as the promotion challenge got back on track after a very indifferent run of recent results.
At this stage of the season one would take a win under any circumstances, but this was a good performance from Coppell's men - we were excellent in possession and scored a very good goal indeed.
It was a fitting way to mark Coppell's 1000th game in management, and there can be no better reward for Steve than what he always strives for - the three points.
