Fulham 3 (Davies 16, Dempsey 72, Healy 90)
Reading 1 (Doyle 54)

The Royals were beaten 3-1 at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

Fulham edged the first half, and led through Simon Davies' well-taken goal.

Reading came out for the second half with renewed vigour, and Antti Niemi made a couple of cracking saves before Kevin Doyle headed home an equaliser.

Both teams then looked to win the game, and Clint Dempsey prodded home after sub Shefki Kuqi outjumped Ibrahima Sonko.

Steve Coppell's men pressed for another leveller, but David Healy scored a last-minute breakaway to seal the win.

There was still time for Elliot Omozusi to be harshly sent off after a late challenge on James Harper, but it was irrelevant.

Reading had played well in patches, but too often couldn't quite find the right pass or cross in the final third.

Michael Duberry hobbled off injured in the second half, while Liam Rosenior got a good reception on his return to Craven Cottage.

Fulham: Niemi; Omozusi, Ashton; Hughes (c), Stefanovic; Davis, Murphy, Davies, Bouazza (Kuqi 60); Dempsey, Kamara (Healy 66)
Subs: Warner, Leijer, Seol
Booked: Stefanovic (foul 34), Ozomusi (foul 50), Healy (foul 83),
Sent off: Ozomusi (foul 90)

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (c) (Long 87), Shorey, Duberry (Ingimarsson 75), Sonko; Gunnarsson, Harper, Doyle, Hunt; Kitson, Lita (Convey 75)
Subs: Federici, Rosenior

Ref: M Clattenburg

Attendance: 22,086

First half
Reading settled nicely, but couldn't create a clear chance in the opening stages.

Then Fulham upped the ante on 18 minutes with a spell of sustained pressure culminating in two blocked shots from Simon Davies then a good save from Marcus Hahnemann.

The home side took the resulting corner quickly, and caught Reading napping a little. The cross was headed clear to the edge of the box by Dave Kitson, but Davies caught a cracking volley right into the corner for 1-0.

On 38 minutes Reading looked for an equaliser, first when Michael Duberry's shot on the turn was deflected, then as Kitson hooked a yard wide from the resulting corner.

A moment later Fulham had something of a let off. A long Hahnemann kick was moved on towards Leroy Lita, who was through, and seemed to be fouled on the edge of the box by the already-booked Stefanovic. Fulham were saved by the offside flag, but it was the wrong decision as the last touch was actually off a home defender.

The Royals had upped the tempo toward the break, but couldn't force Antti Niemi into a meaningful save.

When the half time whistle blew, it had been a period of few chances, and Fulham had the only real moment of pressure, resulting in the goal.

Second half
The Royals had the ball in the net a minute after the restart, but Lita's effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

There was an explosion of action at the beginning of the period, with Duberry close to turning home James Harper's free kick.

Fulham quickly broke, and nearly scored through Diomansy Kamara.

Then Niemi reacted very well to deny Stephen Hunt and push it wide.

FInally Reading had an equaliser when Nicky Shorey's cracking corner was nodded home at the back post by Kevin Doyle for a deserved leveller.

Down the other end the ball hit Duberry's hand in our penalty box, but it was completely accidental.

Steve Coppell's men were keeping the tempo high, and Shorey could have done better from a wide position.

The game was certainly open, with both teams trying to win the game.

On 68, Niemi made another good save, this time from Shorey's free kick. Kitson had tried to get a touch on it, and if he had done so it would surely have gone in.

Four minutes later, Fulham were back in front. Healy outfoxed Hunt on their right, and stood up a cross towards the back stick. Shefki Kuqi outjumped Ibrahima Sonko, and Clint Dempsey was on hand to prod home from three yards.

With 15 to go, Michael Duberry was forced off injured, to be replaced by Ivar Ingimarsson. Lita also went off for Bobby Convey.

Reading were pressing, and Shorey went on one brilliant run to try and get us back level.

Then down the other end Davies should have rolled Kuqi in, but the ball was too high; the chance gone.

Fulham soon did have a third though. Reading pushed forward, and the home side broke quickly. Davies got down the right, and rolled in sub David Healy for a simple finish.

There was still time for Elliot Omozusi to be sent off after a late challenge on James Harper, but it was irrelevant.

We'd had plenty of possession, especially in the second half, but Fulham always seemed to just edge ahead. Our final pass was not great, and our disappointing away form sadly continued.