Reading 2, West Ham 0

READING turned in one of their best displays this season as a brace from Dave Kitson made it an unhappy return for former Royals boss Alan Pardew.

From the kick-off, the Royals' tempo, spirit, and desire were matched by an abundance of quality, technical football. And the win gives Steve Coppell's men a real belief that they can sustain a serious play-off challenge as they enter in to the vital last six games.

Coppell sprung a few surprises with his line-up, with Andy Hughes retained at left-back, Paul Brooker handed a start at right midfield, and the rookie Dean Morgan playing alongside man-of-the-match Kitson in attack.

The first chance of the match fell to The Hammers after 10 minutes. A free-kick was touched on to Marlon Harewood, who spun to fire a fierce shot at goal, only for Jamie Ashdown to make a superb diving save.

Ten minutes later, Graeme Murty struck a shot from 20 yards that Stephen Bywater spilled, but the young 'keeper was alert to block Kitson's effort on the rebound.

A long diagonal pass to the inside-left channel saw Morgan fire a volley just past the far post, while David Connolly toe-poked inches wide for the visitors after nipping in ahead of Ashdown on the six-yard line.

The Royals took a deserved lead after 35 minutes when a superb curling pass from right-back Murty was misjudged by Andy Melville and Kitson reacted at the far post to tuck a superb left-foot finish past Bywater from six yards.

After 52 minutes, the Royals doubled their advantage. James Harper whipped in a free-kick from the left and the ball fell down nicely for Kitson, who lashed home with his lethal left foot on the volley from six yards.

Morgan and Kitson were causing Pardew's back four plenty of problems and Morgan struck a 25-yard shot at Bywater after picking up a loose ball in a central position.

The Royals were defending as well as they attacked and only a header from Bobby Zamora - guided wide of the post after a deep right-wing cross - briefly threatened their goal.

Reading could have changed the final score when John Salako was played in by another great set-up by Kitson, only for Bywater to block his low left-foot shot from the inside-left channel.

The stadium, which had been rocking all afternoon, erupted again at the final whistle, leaving Pardew dejected by the spirit of his side's endeavours in the hostile atmosphere.

For Coppell, this was an emphatic, important and highly-acclaimed victory. For the ecstatic players and fans of Reading, the result was sweet revenge on the man who walked out citing a lack of ambition.

Reading (4-4-2): Ashdown; Murty, Newman, Ingimarsson, Hughes; Brooker, Sidwell (sub Watson 90min), Harper, Salako; Morgan (sub Owusu 73min), Kitson. Subs not used: Young, Gordon, Goater.