Wigan 3 (McCulloch 18, Roberts 21, Ellington 85)
Reading 1 (Sidwell 90)

Wigan: Filan, McMillan, Eaden, Breckin, Jackson (c), Kavanagh, Jarrett, Bullard (Teale 82), McCulloch, Ellington (Wright 89), Roberts (Mahon 63)
Subs: Walsh, Johansson

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (c), Hughes, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Harper, Sidwell, Little (Owusu 72), Brooker (Ferdinand 57), Forster, Kitson
Subs: Young, Keown, Newman

The Royals' season is over after a hugely disappointing defeat at the JJB Stadium that means we finish in seventh place in the Championship, one away from the play-offs.

Wigan richly deserved their win, and in truth the Royals never looked like getting anything from the game. Steve SIdwell's late header was scant consolation for the 2,000-plus Reading fans who had made the trip north and were in fine voice in the face of adversity.

Ivar Ingimarsson replaced Martin Keown in the starting line-up, while Nicky Shorey was again ruled out with a knee injury so Andy Hughes continued at left back.

Wigan began brightly and immediately showed their Premiership ambitions, piling on early pressure in front of an expectant home crowd.

Hahnemann was first called into action after four minutes, having to deal with a shot from the edge of the area from Nathan Ellington, the American keeper calmly getting behind the strike and pushing the ball out for an early Wigan corner.

Nicky Forster was looking hungry up front for the Royals and almost stole in behind the Wigan back line after seven minutes, but Stephen McMillan came across to prevent the striker from getting a shot on goal.

Meanwhile, Graeme Murty had to deal with a dangerous Jimmy Bullard cross from the right, turning it away from danger at the far post and out for another Wigan corner.

With 18 minutes played, the home pressure paid dividends. Great work down the right, saw Ellington squirm free and get to the byline and storm into the Royals' box. Looking up, he pulled the ball back and Lee McCulloch was waiting to prod home from only a few yards out to make it 1-0.

The Reading defence was still shaken by the goal, when Wigan scored a second. Ellington, again a menace, collected the ball in midfield and slotted through his strike partner Jason Roberts. Roberts worked some space on the edge of the box and fired a right-footed shot low across the diving Hahnemann to double Athletic's advantage after only 20 minutes.

With half an hour gone, Wigan won a free kick on the left, after Glen Little had lost posession and pulled McCulloch back to prevent the left winger from moving on into to the Royals box. Kavanagh's floated in-swinger picked out Ian Breckin, but the centre-back couldn't connect cleanly to add to the home side's lead.

Reading were rarely threatening, Ivar Ingimarsson unable to direct a header goalwards, and both Forster and Kitson muscled out of connecting with a Steve Sidwell free-kick after 35 minutes.

With five minutes of the first period remaining, Glen Little found his name in the book after losing posession he frustratedly challenged Steven McMillan unfairly. A minute later, Graham Kavanagh also had his name taken, fouling Steve Sidwell in the middle of the park.

Reading's first real attempt at goal fell to Nicky Forster just before the break, when a right wing cross was only half cleared. Paul Brooker was able to turn the ball back into the danger area, but the frontman sliced his first time volley harmlessly into Filan's arms.

Soon after Marcus Hahnemann was called into more urgent action, having to block Jimmy Bullard's effort as the midfielder bore down on the American's goal.

But Forster had a golden opportunity to pull one back moments before the half time whistle sounded. Glen Little whipped a cross threateningly into the middle and Fozzy connected from ten yards out. But he was unable to stretch Filan in the Wigan goal, aiming his downward header into the Latics keeper's stooping frame.

Reading came out with more purpose in the second half, desperate to trigger an unlikely comeback and fight for the last playoff place.

Despite commanding more control in the game, chances weren't coming and Steve Coppell introduced Les Ferdinand for Paul Brooker 10 minutes after the break.

An hour played though, and a great opportunity fell to Wigan and Lee McCulloch. Jason Roberts drifted to the right and found space in behind Andy Hughes. His early cross found McCulloch in the middle, but his swinging boot could only direct a mishit volley weakly at Marcus Hahnemann.

Five minutes later Glen Little turned provider for the Royals, floating a cross over Wigan bodies to the far post, where Dave Kitson rose, but could only push his header back across goal for the home side to clear.

Then good work from Forster and Harper, saw the midfielder pull the ball back to Steve Sidwell on the edge of the area, but his shot scewed high and wide of the Wigan goalmouth.

Lee McCulloch almost made it three soon after, forcing Hahnemann to acrobatically tip the wide man's rasping 30 yard strike wide for a corner. From that Wigan attack though Reading broke, with Les Ferdinand outmuscling his marker to get free down the right. His low centre found Forster, but under a strong challenge, the Royals' striker could only deflect well wide.

Twenty minutes remaining and Lloyd Owusu entered the fray, replacing Glen Little in an attempt to pose a further aerial threat to Wigan's two-goal lead.

Owusu almost got a shot away soon after coming on, when Nicky Forster, now attacking from a more withdrawn right sided role, was allowed to run into the penalty area and pull back for the substitute, but Owusu was challenged before he could get a shot away.

Forster himself almost broke the Wigan offside trap, but as he turned to see himself with time and the home goal in front of him, the linesman raised his flag.

With time running out and other results not going our way, Wigan confirmed their Premiership status for next season with a third goal. Five minutes remaining and Nathan Ellington deservedly got on the scoresheet, rising high at the far post to connect with a floating cross, and firing a bullet header low past Hahnemann at his near post.

Reading were now chasing a lost cause, but Steve Sidwell snatched an injury time consolation. Les Ferdinand's cross was headed back and forth in the Wigan area before Forster headed towards the right upright where Sidwell could head home from a yard out.

The final whistle blew, sending the Wigan fans wild but Reading leave a delighted JJB Stadium without a playoff place and ending their season with defeat.