Wigan 0, Reading 2

TWO outstanding second-half goals from Nicky Forster saw Reading end high-flying Wigan's unbeaten home Division One record - a result which shoots the Royals to fifth in the table.

Forster proved the difference between the teams and he gave an early indication of his threat within two minutes as he chased through the inside-right channel.

He angled a low right-foot shot past the 'keeper but it shaved the outside edge of the far post.

John Filan pushed away another Forster effort and, despite a couple of half-chances for Andy Liddell, the Royals looked comfortable early on.

A long goal-kick halfway through the first period saw Forster race through again but this time he shot wide from the edge of the box.

Filan soon denied him again as he burst through the inside-left channel to thump a shot at goal.

After the interval, Nathan Ellington shot off-target and then forced a fine save from Marcus Hahnemann with a swerving, low 30-yard drive.

Forster finally got the breakthrough he deserved after 55 minutes with a goal of outstanding quality.

He picked up the ball on the halfway line, ran directly at his two markers and, under heavy pressure in the inside-left channel, fired a low shot past Filan from 10 yards.

Hahnemann saved a Lee McCulloch header and Gary Teale shot past the far post after bursting into the box as Wigan tried to fight back.

Jasin De Vos headed at Hahnemann too, Ellington blazed over and McCulloch sent a looping header on to the roof of the net as Reading were pushed deeper.

The Royals hit back late on to great effect. Forster latched on to another long pass through the centre to hammer a shot at Filan, who parried well.

However, the lively striker sealed victory with another clinical finish after 89 minutes to see the Royals home safely.

James Harper chipped a pass out to Forster on the left edge of the box. He teased two defenders, and cut back on to his right foot before a cracking a low drive into the bottom right-hand corner of Filan's net.

Sunday's FA Cup draw gave promotion-chasing Reading an away tie at Preston in the third round on Saturday, January 3.

Reading (4-5-1): Hahnemann; Murty, Mackie, Ingimarsson, Shorey; Savage (sub Murray 37min), Sidwell, Hughes (sub Harper 54min), Watson, Salako; Forster. Subs not used: Young, Newman, Tyson.