Nigel Adkins: 'Playoff destiny in our own hands'

Reading manager Nigel Adkins has admitted that a Championship playoff spot is now firmly in their grasp following their 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough.

The Royals moved back into sixth place courtesy of Adam le Fondre's 14th of the season and a George Friend own goal at the Madjeski Stadium on Tuesday.

Wins over Doncaster Rovers and Burnley in their final two games would guarantee Reading a playoff berth, where Adkins his hoping that the lottery will work in their favour as they target an immediate return to the Premier League.

"Our destiny is in our own hands," he told reporters. "We were excellent, we had passion, we had hunger, we had walking wounded out there again and all credit to them.

"We started well, got two great goals and played some good football. You saw the togetherness of the team.

"Middlesbrough are a good side so for me it's an excellent result and it puts us in the play-off positions with two tough games to come. We are still in the race and and everyone knows when you get to the play-offs it's anyone's game."

Only four points separate Reading, whose victory against Boro was their first home success since January, from 11th-place Bournemouth in a congested top half of the Championship table.