Wigan 0
Reading 2 (Forster 55, 89)

Wigan: Filan, Eaden, Rogers, Breckin, De Vos, Teale, Bullard, Jarrett (Roberts 80), McCulloch, Liddell, Ellington
Subs: Walsh, Kennedy, Lawrence, Jackson

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Mackie, Ingimarsson, Watson, Sidwell, Savage (Murray 40), Salako, Hughes (Harper 54), Forster
Subs: Young, Newman, Tyson

Nicky Forster scored two brilliant goals as the Royals earned a fabulous 2-0 victory over Wigan.

Reading started strongly, and with just two minutes gone Bas Savage found Andy Hughes, who played an excellent ball over the top for Forster to run onto, and the striker sprinted goalwards before shooting just wide of the far post from a narrow angle.

In a lively start to proceedings, Wigan then had their first opportunity when Andy Liddell found space inside the area and his shot was deflected over Marcus Hahnemann, but Graeme Murty cleared superbly off the line.

On 12 minutes John Mackie made one of many important interventions, blocking Liddell's shot, but on the whole Reading looked comfortable in defence and dangerous on the break.

Midway through the period Hahnemann made an easy save from Liddell's low drive, and Reading immediately went on the break, with the keeper's long kick dropping to Forster as Wigan failed to clear, but the striker hit his 20-yard volley wide.

Minutes later Forster had an even better chance as Kevin Watson and Hughes combined to release the Reading number 10, and after his pace took him clear of the Wigan defence he sprinted into the area only for John Filan to make an excellent low save.

Hahnemann made his best save so far after 30 minutes, when Liddell beat the offside trap to latch onto Ellington's pass, and the American dived low to his left to save solidly.

Early in the second half Ellington fired wide from 15 yards after a loose touch by the otherwise excellent Watson, and Hahnemann was then forced into a superb stop to turn away Ellington's 25-yard drive with his left hand.

Just as Wigan seemed to be stepping up the pressure, Nicky Shorey cleared a corner and Forster controlled brilliantly on halfway before darting forward, leaving the defence in his wake as he entered the box on the left-hand side, and then producing an unstoppable left-footed finish for the opening goal.

Midway through the period Shaun Teale and Lee McCulloch wasted decent chances for the home side, but Reading were defending resolutely with Mackie and Murty making several brilliant challenges.

With time running out, Wigan relied increasingly on long balls towards aerially dominant defender Jason De Vos, but the Canadian international was unable to trouble Hahnemann with his headed efforts.

On 84 minutes sub James Harper released Forster whose snapshot was saved by Filan, but the points were secured a minute from time, when Harper again found Forster, who cut in from the left and drilled a fierce low shot into the left-hand corner from 10 yards.

Mackie completed the 90 minutes with a suspected broken nose after an earlier collision with Bas Savage.

Full highlights
Watch full highlights in Reading World from Sunday night.