Pain and pleasure for rampant Royals

NOEL HUNT might have hit a sweet spot with his spectacular free-kick at Birmingham on Saturday but the Irish striker revealed he had struck a more sensitive area while practicing the routine at training.

Hunt helped the Royals to a crucial win over their promotion rivals with his glorious effort, struck over the wall and into the top corner.

The goal was all the more remarkable given Hunt was suffering concussion at the time, but the former Dundee United forward was not the only Royal nursing an injury as he strode up to take the free.

“I hit one the previous day in training,” Hunt explained. “It hit Kevin Doyle in the private parts and the second on Saturday I put in the back of the net!”

The win puts Reading into the top two for the first time this season and Hunt urged his brother Stephen and Doyle to stay with the club when the transfer window opens.

“I hope they both stay because we are an exciting team. Stephen is his own man. He may go for bigger and better things in the Premier League — but I’ve a feeling he will stay as he has a soft spot for the club.”

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said his team’s unconvincing 1-0 win at struggling Doncaster may prove their most important.

Neill Collins’ 81st-minute header put Wanderers seven points clear at the top of the Championship.

“One of the lads said afterwards that it could be one of the best wins of the season, and it could be,” he said.

Burnley sit fourth after their impressive season continued with a 2-1 win at Bristol City, Martin Paterson and substitute Steven Thompson scoring for the victors.

Roger Johnson and Michael Chopra found the net for fifth-placed Cardiff in their 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Ninian Park. Sheffield United are in the final play-off position but remain locked on 37 points with seventh-placed Crystal Palace after Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane.