Sheffield Utd 1, Reading 2

READING produced their best display under new manager Steve Coppell to earn a hard-fought victory in Friday night's live Sky TV game.

Following Tuesday's disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Walsall and the news that Steve Brown is likely to join fellow centre-back John Mackie on the sidelines for a month, Coppell was allowed to strengthen his squad ahead of the match.

His new man is Ivar Ingimarsson, signed from Wolves for £100,000 on Thursday, and he gave a superb display alongside Adie Williams in the heart of the defence.

Shaun Goater was left out, with John Salako keeping his place on the left after excellent recent form. Andy Hughes recovered from a dead leg to come back as the link-man just behind Nicky Forster, as Royals' return to 4-5-1 paid dividends.

Forster sent a 20-yard left-foot drive just past the post and on six minutes Royals stunned the home side - who were looking to go top - by snatching the lead.

Nicky Shorey took a corner on the left, Hughes blocked off his marker and Williams powered home a near-post header from eight yards despite the best attempts of Paul Gerrard to claw it away.

Royals were rocked after nine minutes when United levelled. Michael Brown centred from the left of the box and his ball across the six-yard line was poked home by Ashley Ward at the far post.

Phil Jagielka headed a corner in to Marcus Hahnemann's arms moments later but Royals settled down again. Just before the half-hour mark, United created a couple of chances. The first, a header on the run from Brown, went wide, and the second saw Hahnemann do well to push away a low left-foot shot from Ward.

The Royals responded when Forster and Steven Sidwell - again an inspiration all over the park - set up James Harper but Gerrard blocked his low 20-yard right-foot effort.

It was good to see Hahneman, at fault for Walsall's winner on Tuesday, back to better form. And he made a superb flying save to deny Rob Kozluk with a fierce right-foot blast from 25 yards after 41 minutes.

Three minutes before the break, the Royals struck again to take a shock lead. Forster collected a ball 30 yards out. He turned, ran at goal and, from outside the box, thumped home a right-foot shot past Gerrard's left.

The hosts went a little more direct after the interval, frustrated by Royals tenacious battling. Mike Whitlow saw Hahnemann hold his downward header after a floated free-kick but pressure on Reading's goal was handled well by the organised defence.

Some 67 minutes had gone before the next decent effort but the majestic Williams was alert again to block Jack Lester's shot from three yards.

Harper responded instantly with a 25-yard right-foot shot going inches past Gerrard's post and, although the Royals were pinned back for long spells, they continued to cope admirably. The only other scare came when Ricky Newman cleared from the foot of Paul Peschisolido inside the box after 86 minutes.

Royals boss Coppell was delighted with the result and performance and his side now face Huddersfield at home on Tuesday night in round three of the Carling Cup.

Reading (4-5-1): Hahnemann; Newman, Williams, Ingimarsson, Shorey; Murray, Harper, Hughes (sub Watson 83min), Sidwell, Salako; Forster. Subs not used: Ashdown, Tyson, Savage, Goater.