Forster the hero as Royals move back into play-off spot

Brighton 0 Reading 1

There might have been nothing too convincing about Forster’s close-range finish, but it proved enough to beat sorry Brighton at the Withdean Stadium and saw the Royals leapfrog Sheffield United and land firmly in the play-off picture once again.

After almost three months in the doldrums, Reading boss Steve Coppell may argue his team are finding form at just the right time.

He will also know they will have to perform much better over the remaining seven games if Reading owner John Madejski is to fulfil his dream of seeing the Berkshire outfit play in the Premiership.

For Brighton boss Mark McGhee, it was another bad night. At least the Seagulls kept the score down after conceding 11 goals in their last three games, but it is difficult to see where their next win is coming from.

And there must also be a major doubt over Mark McCammon’s ability to see out the season after the striker dramatically collapsed, complaining of dizziness, as the interval whistle blew.

Forster, barely five minutes after leaving the bench, got the winner when he got on the end of Little’s deep cross and bundled the ball home with his chest after Shaaban had stopped his initial weak header.

Reading largely managed to keep the hosts at bay after that, although keeper Hahnemann had to make a superb flying save to deny Adam Virgo late on.

BRIGHTON: Shaaban, Reid, Hinshelwood (Hammond 24), Butters, Harding, Hart, Oatway, Virgo, Mayo (Jones 56), Knight, McCammon (McPhee 45).

READING: Hahnemann, Murty, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Shorey, Little, Newman, Sidwell, Hughes, Kitson, Morgan (Forster 59).