Reading lifted themselves into the Championship play-off places as Shane Long scored twice in their win over 10-man Portsmouth.
Royals keeper Alex McCarthy saved from David Nugent and Dave Kitson before Long powered in a shot.
Ricardo Rocha was red carded for a foul on Long, who slotted in the resultant penalty for his 51st Royals goal.
Brian Howard had a shot ruled out for handball for Reading, who survived a goalmouth scramble late on.
Portsmouth will be left to rue their failure to take their early chances as well as Rocha's dismissal.
Former Royals forward Kitson headed wide from a Liam Lawrence cross during a lively opening.
Nugent beat the Royals offside trap and was through on goal only to have his low shot saved by England under-21 international McCarthy.
Kitson latched on to the loose ball but was denied when the Royals keeper tipped over his follow-up effort.
Long punished Pompey moments later as he finished off a Reading counter-attack.
A visitors' corner was headed clear for Jimmy Kebe to burst away down the left wing and he cut inside before picking out Jem Karacan, who in turn played in Long to drive in a shot.
A chipped Howard ball over the top released Long and the Reading striker was hauled down by Rocha.
The Pompey defender was sent off and Long picked himself up to slot in from the spot to make it nine goals in his past nine league games.
The visitors valiantly continued to attempt to get back into the game and Kitson had another chance but sent a header high as Reading held on for the win.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Reading
2-0
Portsmouth
FT
(HT 2-0)
Long 30
Long (pen) 37
Reading
41 McCarthy
15 Khizanishvili
16 Ingimarsson
23 Harte
04 Karacan
06 Gunnarsson
07 Tabb
11 McAnuff yellow card (Robson-Kanu 61)
14 Kebe
20 Howard (Church 74)
09 Long
Substitutes
31 Andersen,
02 Griffin,
26 Pearce,
17 Antonio,
19 Robson-Kanu,
18 Church,
45 Manset
Portsmouth
01 Ashdown
02 Halford
05 De Laet yellow card
06 Hreidarsson (Ward 78)
33 Rocha red card
07 Lawrence
08 Mullins yellow card
14 Hogg yellow card
17 Cotterill (Mokoena 43 yellow card)
10 Nugent (Webber 85)
18 Kitson
Substitutes
37 Flahavan,
03 Dickinson,
20 Ward,
04 Mokoena,
24 Ciftci,
09 Webber,
27 Kanu
Ref: FriendAtt: 21,896
READING
PORTSMOUTH
Possession
Reading46%
Portsmouth54%
Attempts on target
Reading6
Portsmouth4
Attempts off target
Reading5
Portsmouth5
Corners
Reading7
Portsmouth7
Fouls
Reading6
Portsmouth14
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:09 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+2:42 Foul by Jonathan Hogg on Jimmy Kebe, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ian Harte.
90:00+2:42 Booking The referee cautions Jonathan Hogg for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+1:24 Liam Lawrence has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
90:00+0:37 Handball by Simon Church. Jamie Ashdown restarts play with the free kick.
88:33 The offside flag is raised against Shane Long. Indirect free kick taken by Ritchie De Laet.
87:48 Liam Lawrence is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.
86:33 The ball is swung over by Greg Halford, Alex McCarthy makes a save.
85:12 Dave Kitson challenges Jay Tabb unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.
84:37 Substitution Danny Webber is brought on as a substitute for David Nugent.
83:27 Jimmy Kebe has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.
82:34 A cross is delivered by Liam Lawrence, Alex McCarthy makes a save.
80:29 Foul by Ian Harte on Dave Kitson, free kick awarded. Joel Ward restarts play with the free kick.
79:11 Ian Harte sends in a cross, Greg Halford makes a clearance.
78:30 Foul by Jonathan Hogg on Brynjar Gunnarsson, free kick awarded. Brynjar Gunnarsson takes the direct free kick.
77:12 Substitution Hermann Hreidarsson leaves the field to be replaced by Joel Ward.
76:03 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dave Kitson on Ivar Ingimarsson. Alex McCarthy restarts play with the free kick.
75:36 Liam Lawrence takes a shot. Save by Alex McCarthy.
73:52 Corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence, save by Alex McCarthy.
73:12 Substitution Simon Church joins the action as a substitute, replacing Brian Howard.
72:27 Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard from the right by-line, Header on goal by Zurab Khizanishvili from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
69:39 Brian Howard fouled by Aaron Mokoena, the ref awards a free kick. Ian Harte takes the free kick.
69:39 Booking The referee books Aaron Mokoena for unsporting behaviour.
68:09 Brian Howard takes a shot. Jamie Ashdown makes a save.
67:32 The offside flag is raised against Brian Howard. Jamie Ashdown takes the indirect free kick.
66:59 Shane Long takes a shot. Save by Jamie Ashdown.
66:14 Brian Howard takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Greg Halford.
64:20 Shot from just outside the box by Brian Howard goes over the bar.
62:35 Header on goal by Dave Kitson from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
62:06 Liam Lawrence takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Shane Long.
60:29 Substitution Jobi McAnuff goes off and Hal Robson-Kanu comes on.
60:19 Centre by Liam Lawrence.
59:23 Unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff by Jonathan Hogg results in a free kick. Ian Harte delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance by Hayden Mullins.
57:49 Unfair challenge on David Nugent by Jobi McAnuff results in a free kick. Liam Lawrence takes the free kick.
56:20 Liam Lawrence takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Shane Long.
53:13 Jimmy Kebe fouled by Hermann Hreidarsson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Brynjar Gunnarsson.
49:03 David Nugent is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Alex McCarthy restarts play with the free kick.
47:07 Jimmy Kebe sends in a cross.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+2:10 It is the end of the first-half.
45:00+0:10 Corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence to the near post, Shane Long makes a clearance.
44:25 Jobi McAnuff takes the inswinging corner, save by Jamie Ashdown.
43:24 Jem Karacan produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.
42:36 Inswinging corner taken by Brian Howard from the right by-line, clearance by Hermann Hreidarsson.
42:36 Substitution Aaron Mokoena joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Cotterill.
39:59 Short corner worked by Liam Lawrence.
39:06 Jobi McAnuff concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonathan Hogg. Direct free kick taken by Liam Lawrence.
39:06 Booking Jobi McAnuff goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
37:37 Brian Howard fouled by Hayden Mullins, the ref awards a free kick. Ian Harte takes the free kick.
36:53 Penalty awarded for a foul by Ricardo Rocha on Shane Long.
36:53 GOAL - Shane Long:Reading 2 - 0 Portsmouth Shane Long scores a penalty. Reading 2-0 Portsmouth.
35:31 Sent off Ricardo Rocha receives a red card for professional foul.
33:44 Dave Kitson produces a volleyed left-footed shot from 20 yards. Alex McCarthy makes a save.
31:27 David Cotterill fouled by Jay Tabb, the ref awards a free kick. Greg Halford takes the direct free kick.
29:14 The assist for the goal came from Jem Karacan.
29:14 GOAL - Shane Long:Reading 1 - 0 Portsmouth Shane Long finds the net with a goal from long range low into the middle of the goal. Reading 1-0 Portsmouth.
28:24 Corner taken by Liam Lawrence from the right by-line, Brynjar Gunnarsson manages to make a clearance.
26:26 Brian Howard fouled by Hayden Mullins, the ref awards a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Ian Harte from the free kick.
26:26 Booking Hayden Mullins goes into the referee's book.
24:44 Jonathan Hogg produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
21:50 A cross is delivered by Jonathan Hogg.
20:28 Dave Kitson takes a shot. Save made by Alex McCarthy.
20:06 David Nugent takes a shot. Save made by Alex McCarthy.
18:50 Header by Dave Kitson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
18:13 David Nugent fouled by Brynjar Gunnarsson, the ref awards a free kick. Greg Halford restarts play with the free kick.
17:21 Liam Lawrence is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.
15:55 Brynjar Gunnarsson crosses the ball.
15:17 Inswinging corner taken by Jobi McAnuff from the left by-line.
13:42 Unfair challenge on Shane Long by Greg Halford results in a free kick. Ian Harte fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
13:08 Jem Karacan produces a cross.
12:08 Jay Tabb fouled by Jonathan Hogg, the ref awards a free kick. Ian Harte shoots direct from the free kick, save made by Jamie Ashdown.
8:33 Jem Karacan concedes a free kick for a foul on David Cotterill. Ritchie De Laet takes the direct free kick.
7:57 Brian Howard decides to take a short corner.
7:19 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff by Ritchie De Laet. Ian Harte restarts play with the free kick.
7:19 Booking The referee cautions Ritchie De Laet for unsporting behaviour.
6:12 Shane Long fouled by Hermann Hreidarsson, the ref awards a free kick. Brynjar Gunnarsson takes the direct free kick. Shane Long takes a shot. Save by Jamie Ashdown.
Correction - 5:06 Liam Lawrence delivers the ball, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Dave Kitson misses to the right of the target.
5:06 The ball is sent over by Liam Lawrence, Headed effort from inside the box by Dave Kitson misses to the right of the target.
4:13 Liam Lawrence takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Ivar Ingimarsson.
1:50 Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard to the near post, clearance by Greg Halford.
0:00 The referee gets the game started.
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