Reading 1 (Doyle 33)
Bolton 0

Kevin Doyle's eighth goal of the season earned Reading a fourth consecutive Premiership victory as they defeated Bolton this afternoon.

The Irishman headed home John Oster's cross on 33 minutes to give the Royals a lead they fully deserved, and although Bolton came back into the game, Steve Coppell's men stood firm for an excellent victory.

Reading were dominant in the first half, with decent chances for Stephen Hunt and Ivar Ingimarsson, then Oster could have made it 2-0 moments after the break.

Bolton's forward play caused a few scrambles late on, but a defence marshalled expertly by Ingimarsson earned their third straight clean sheet.

Steve Coppell brought Oster in for his first Premiership start in place of the injured Glen Little, and the Welsh international was an impressive performer, earning a very good ovation when replaced late on.

The win puts Reading up to sixth in the table, inside the European qualification spots, and they are level on points with third-placed Arsenal. They now face an away trip to Newcastle, who have dropped into the bottom three.

Reading: Hahnemann; Murty (c), Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson; Harper, Sidwell, Oster (Gunnarsson 87), Hunt; Doyle, Seol (Lita 76)
Subs: Federici, Bikey, Long

Bolton: Jaaskelainen; Hunt, Ben Haim (Pedersen 85), Faye, Meite; Nolan, Speed (Campo 60), Giannakopolous, Diouf (Vaz Te 60); Anelka, Davies
Subs: Al Habsi, Tal
Yellow cards: Nolan, Ben Haim

Ref: A Wiley

Attendance: 23,556




Full report
The Royals started the game well, and James Harper shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area to mark his team's attacking intent.

Stephen Hunt then perhaps could have made more of space down the left, and it was Reading who made the early running.

Bolton had a decent chance when Kevin Nolan had a sight of goal, but he shot early and Marcus Hahnemann saved. El-Hadji Diouf then headed straight at the American from a right-wing cross.

Juski Jaaskelainen had something of a let-off when Kevin Doyle was adjudged to have fouled the Finn as he dropped the ball inside his area. Steve Sidwell was perhaps also relieved, as the keeper's mishandle gave him an absolute sitter that he somehow crashed against the bar.

On the half hour Reading had two very good sights of goal, first when Seol turned goalwards from Kevin Doyle's great cross, but it was deflected for a corner.

From John Oster's resulting delivery, Ivar Ingimarsson had a clear sight of goal but stabbed his efort wide.

Reading were turning the screw, and Hunt looked to have a good chance but failed to fully commit himself to getting a head on Doyle's drilled cross.

Reading had the goal their play fully deserved on 32 minutes. Nicky Shorey went on an excellent run from left back and skipped well inside Bolton territory. He looked up and found Oster on the opposite wing with a good pass, and the Welsh international bore down on goal.

The winger turned inside a challenge and delivered a great cross to the back post, with Doyle planting home an excellent header into the far post.

Reading wanted another goal before the break, but Bolton had a rare foray forward just before the interval, with Diouf denied and then Nolan off target.

The Royals had an excellent chance at the start of the second half, when Hunt stood up a good ball to Oster at the back post. The Welshman was only seven yards out, but miscued badly and a good chance bounced over.

Bolton then threatened twice, first when Nicolas Anelka went through, but he was pushed too far wide and the danger was cleared. Then Nolan stabbed inches wide following a scramble in the six yard box.

Shorey then had Jaaskelainen scrambling as he tried a 25-yarder, but it went a couple of feet over.

The game remaind exciting, but clear chances were at a premium. Nolan had a header that was saved, and Sidwell drilled over from the edge of the area.

Abdoulaye Faye was given a good chance on 80 minutes, but headed wide of the near post when perhaps he could have gone with his feet.

Sub Leroy Lita broke the offside trap late on, and his snapshot was parried by Jaaskelainen and scrambled away.

Bolton sub Ricardo Vaz Te almost stole an equaliser on 87, but stabbed wide from 15 yards when well placed to hit the target. The Portuguese was then narrowly given offside as he bore in on goal.

Inside injury time, sub Brynjar Gunnarsson hacked clear as an Ivan Campo long throw caused havoc in the box.

Bolton threw everything forward, with keeper Jaaskelainen going up for a corner. Hahnemann caught it, and the Finn knocked the ball out of the American's hand as they looked to break straight away.

The Bolton stopper was booked, and it only served to run the clock down as Reading took all three points and maintained a superb run of consecutive wins in the Premiership.




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