Reading 0
Bolton 2 (Nolan 33, Helguson 58)

The Royals suffered a hugely disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers today.

Reading huffed and puffed, but couldn't ever really penetrate a solid Trotters defence.

We started as marginally the better team, only for Marek Matejovsky to give away a penalty on 24 minutes.

Matt Taylor's spot kick was saved by Marcus Hahnemann, but it was Bolton who were lifted after that.

Kevin Nolan scored a simple goal from a long free kick, and the game had turned in their favour.

Reading had their best spell just after the break, but couldn't get a breakthrough.

Bolton added a breakaway second when Heidar Helguson prodded home after a shot was deflected into his path. Reading claimed offside, but he was level.

Kevin Doyle had our best chance to get us back in the game, but when he headed sub John Oster's cross over, the game was up.

Although we did not play especially well, we never got a break in front of goal, and couldn't get through a rugged visiting defence.

We narrowly avoided dropping into the relegation zone, and the remaining 13 games of the season will all be nervy afffairs without question.

Ivar Ingimarsson was booked in the last minute, and will be banned for next week's game at Everton.

Reading: Hahnemann; Murty (c), Shorey, Cisse, Ingimarsson; Harper (Sonko 73), Matejovsky, Doyle, Hunt; Kitson (Oster 67), Lita (Long 76)
Subs: Federici, De La Cruz,
Booked: Lita (dissent 34), Kitson (foul 44), Ingimarsson (foul 90)

Bolton: Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Gardner, A O'Brien, Cahill; Campo, Nolan (c), Guthrie (Cohen 75), Taylor (Samuel 67); Davies, Helguson (Diouf 67)
Subs: Al Habsi, Rasiak
Booked; Davies (foul 13)

Attendance: 21,893

Ref: P Dowd

First half
Reading started the game as the better of the two sides, and Leroy LIta did well to get in on goal a couple of times.

On both occassions he was denied by Jussi Jaaskelainen, and each time as the ball broke clear you just got the feeling that another Royal could have had a chance if they'd been backing Lita up with more conviction.

Heidar Helguson then had a good chance for the visitors, but headed off target when unmarked.

With 24 on the clock, Bolton had a penalty when debutant Marek Matejovsky clearly fouled Gretar Steinsson in the area; no complaints.

Matt Taylor took it, but it was well saved by Marcus Hahnemann to his left. There was something of a panic as we tried to clear it, and we couldn't get the ball out of play to catch our breath.

Thankfully though we were finally able to hack away after Hahnemann raced out of his box.

Usually, you would expect a penalty save to give that team a lift, but it was actually Wanderers who improved.

Ivar Ingimarsson was forced to clear at his near post from Taylor's cross as Bolton raised the tempo.

On 33, they had their goal. Ivan Campo went down very easily in his own half, with Matejovsky only making the lightest of touches.

Jaaskelainen boomed the free kick downfield, and it was all rather simple as Kevin Davies shrugged off Kalifa Cisse, heading down to allow Kevin Nolan to run past James Harper and slot in.

Nolan tried his luck again before half time, but his volley was curling away as soon as he hit it.

Second half
Davies had a shot on the turn just moments after the break, but it was always going wide of the near post.

Reading tried hard to get themselves back in it, and Dave Kitson's good ball gave Lita another run at goal. Gary Cahill put in a good challenge though, and it was eventually hacked away as Bolton retreated.

Lita was then desperately close to a goal, flicking Nicky Shorey's corner goalward, but it was headed off the line at the back post with the keeper beaten.

We had a head of steam, and Ingimarsson turned narrowly wide from a corner.

But Bolton broke clear to make it 2-0. Nolan prodded forward, and Taylor's shot was blocked into the path of Helguson. The Icelander was definitely onside, and he prodded underneath Hahnemann from 12 yards.

Reading had a mountain to climb, and Matejovsky almost put Lita in but the pass was a little overhit and forced him too wide, the chance gone.

Then Lita almost furnished an opportunity for Stephen Hunt, but Jaaskelainen did well at his near post.

A couple of Nicky Shorey free kicks almost created something, first when he stung the keeper's palms, then when he tried to find sub Ibrahima Sonko. It was all rather scrappy though and we were not fluent.

WIth ten minutes left, Kevin Doyle had our best chance to get us back in it, but headed over from sub John Oster's great cross. At that point, the game was up.

Our third and final sub Shane Long tried to create something, and his cross bounced off two Bolton players but still fell into their path.

Reading had not created a great deal, but at the same time they hadn't had a break in the opposition box.

Wanderers defended our crosses well, and the comeback never really looked on.

As full time came, only Derby's late equaliser kept us out of the bottom three, and there's no question that we face a tough, arduous task until the end of the season.