Reading boost playoff hopes

Reading have given their playoff hopes a huge boost after beating Middlesbrough this evening thanks to an Adam Le Fondre strike and a George Friend own goal.

Danny Williams was given the first real chance of the game but his 25-yard drive was saved well by Boro keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.

Le Fondre then opened the scoring with a simple tap-in after Boro failed to deal with Jordan Obita's ball into the box.

Danny Graham spurned a great chance to equalise for the visitors and was made to pay when another Obita cross was turned into his own net by Friend.

Hal Robson-Kanu was forced to come off after a lengthy break in play for treatment before another dangerous delivery from Obita almost resulted in a goal for Sean Morrison before half time.

After the break, Pavel Pogrebnyak headed over before Le Fondre nodded against the bar from a Gareth McCleary cross.

Pogrebnyak then came close to scoring a wonder goal as he jinked past three defenders, but his strike at goal was saved.

It mattered little, however, with Reading closing out the game to secure all three points.