Nottingham Forest 3-4 Reading
Saturday April 9, City Ground, (Att: 22,495)
An goal in injury time from Simon Church handed Reading a crucial victory over top six rivals Nottingham Forest as they edged an enthralling encounter at the City Ground.
The visitors took the lead on 19 minutes - Ian Harte once again showing his skill from a dead ball situation to swerve a free kick past Forest's Lee Camp and into the net.
However, Billy Davies's side drew level just before the interval when Kris Boyd converted a penalty after Lewis McGugan was tripped in the box by Mikele Leigertwood.
And six minutes into the second period Forest were ahead. Rob Earnshaw's shot across goal beat Alex McCarthy and went in off the post.
Reading's riposte was almost immediate though, with Jem Karacan looping a header over Camp from a corner to restore parity.
Just past the hour mark, the Royals were back in front courtesy of Jimmy Kebe pouncing on a loose ball in the box after Camp could only parry an earlier shot.
It seemed like the East Midlands side had saved a point with two minutes of normal time remaining though. This time McGugan netting from the spot after a foul on Chris Gunter in the area.
Brian McDermott's team were to have the last say though, when Church got in front of Luke Chambers to knock home a cross from the right during added on time.
There was still enough time, too, for Shane Long to see a penalty for the Berkshire side saved by Camp after Gunter had handled inside the area.
It lifted Reading up to 5th, now six points ahead of a Forest side whose nine game winless streak leaves them 8th and in danger of missing out on the play offs.
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