Reading find themselves on the verge of a play-off finish after a vital 3-1 away victory at Doncaster Rovers. Once again, Reading's play-off rivals failed to pick up points. Ipswich and Nottingham Forest both lost their fixtures - and Wigan also lost allowing Reading to jump to fifth in the table. Ignoring the maths, and assuming that Wigan will claim a play-off position finish with the advantage of an additional game to play, it's now a battle between Reading and Brighton for the play-offs. Blackburn could make it but are 7 goals worse off than the Royals and a very unlikely bet.

Nottingham Forest can no longer make the play-offs but it will still be a tough match for Brighton when they travel to Nottingham on the final day of the season next Saturday afternoon. Reading will face second placed Burnley at the Madejski knowing a win will take them into the play-offs - and they may sneak in with less. It will probably be a very tense afternoon for fans of Reading and Brighton - and possibly even Wigan.

Brighton left it late to beat Yeovil 2-0 at home last night, and Reading left it even later this afternoon. Brighton fans must have been getting excited when Doncaster took a first half lead going in to the half time break. Reading have normally folded when going behind this season, with recoveries very rare indeed. However today was different as Reading hit back with three second half goals.

Le Fondre pulled Reading level after going down in the area and then stepped up to convert the penalty kick on 63 minutes. Pogrebnyak potentially rescued the season, and Reading's promotion hopes, with a crucial goal with four minutes left to play - heading home to send the travelling fans wild. With Doncaster pressing for a late equaliser, Pogrebnyak broke free in injury time to seal the victory and make the Championship league table look much healthier for the Royals with just that single crunch game to play.

Oh my. First half was awful. Seriously awful. As bad as anything we've produced this season. Not sure we had a single shot at goal, the midfield was non-existent...epitomised by the anonymous Akpan and the woeful Leigertwood, and there was no pace or urgency in attack. Cue mass hysteria in the concourse.

Second half was a completely different story. While quality was still in short supply, all of a sudden that hunger and desire Nigel has been talking about all season was evident. Leigertwood had somehow been transformed into a Viera type figure, dominating the midfield, and we started getting at their full backs and creating chances. The pressure paid off eventually, and it was a deserved 3 points in the end.

Special mentions to the much derided duo Leigertwood and McAnuff for turning the game around second half with their drive and passion, to Pearce for his outrageous assist, and to Jakey Taylor for coming on and making an impact.
winchester_royal

First half was woeful from both sides. The only chance I can recall was the goal, and even that seemed to have been borne of shoddy defending. Saying that though we did try a bit harder after they scored, got a couple of corners but they slowed down our momentum into half time.

Second half started off pretty slowly, the away fans seemed tentative when it came to backing the boys, but we eventually started to boss the game. McCleary was in charge down the right side the whole half. What seemed to change everything was the absolutely disgraceful play-acting/refereeing on display which galvanised the team and led the fans to cheer much more vociferously and gee the team on. Once we got the goal from the IMO needlessly conceded penalty, we were on a role and there was only one team in it. Beautifully weighted ball from Gunter for the 2nd and a nice counter from Pearce of all people to get the 3rd, cue pandamonium and Wembley chants.

Crowd was immense especially 2nd half, can't remember an away atmosphere like it since our last decent cup run. Players were equally as passionate for the 2nd and 3rd goals and when they came over at the end. It may have taken 45 games but we finally look like a side ready to compete for the playoffs.
Niko

Rovers were well worth their goal lead at the break - courtesy of James Coppinger’s composed finish - as they executed Paul Dickov’s pass and press gameplan to the letter. They were forceful, competent and they completely suffocated the life out of a Reading team that were failing dreadfully to live up to their reputation as one of the division’s most dynamic attacking teams. At half time Rovers were three points and four places clear of the drop zone. Everything was going to plan.

But there was to be a horrible sting in the tail - the sort Doncaster fans have become accustomed to at this level - as another refereeing decision turned this game completely on its head and turned out to be the springboard for Rovers’ fourth straight home defeat.

When Rovers have scored the first goal in games this season, they have generally been pretty good at turning that into three points.

But on this occasion there was almost a sense of inevitability that Reading would go on and win the game after Adam Le Fondre earned and then scored the equalising penalty. And so it proved, as Pavel Pogrebnyak popped in the winner in the dying moments and then rubbed salt in the wounds in stoppage time.
Doncaster Today

The contrast at the Keepmoat Stadium could not have been starker. While Reading players and fans cavorted freely in the wake of a comeback victory, the Doncaster Rovers public address glumly advised supporters that tickets remain available for the final game at Leicester City "if you really want to go down there"...

Reading still hadn't managed a shot on target when Le Fondre was brought down in the penalty area by Paul Quinn just after the hour. The striker got up to confidently despatch the spot-kick into Sam Johnstone's bottom right-hand corner.

They had looked out of sorts, hence Adkins's half-time pep talk, but Reading finished the stronger. With 86 minutes gone they snatched the lead with a Pogrebnyak header from the young substitute Jake Taylor's far-post centre, and the Russian rubbed it in for Rovers when he squeezed a third between Johnstone and his near post in injury time.
The Guardian

Reading manager Nigel Adkins:
"We weren't at our best in the first half but we had words during the interval and the response from the players was fantastic. There's a hunger and a passion about this side and it's in our own hands whether we are in the play-offs or not. We've got Burnley at home in the last match and that won't be easy but I'm expecting a full house and we will be going all out to win the game. We knew we had to win to keep our season alive and the players have gone out and done that."