Nottingham Forest 0, Reading 1

READING finally got back to winning ways with a hard-fought victory thanks to an exquisite goal by Scott Murray just before the break, writes Lawrence Hicks.

Royals manager Steve Coppell made changes, bringing back Kevin Watson, Steven Sidwell and John Salako to midfield, while fit-again striker Nicky Forster returned after injury.

Forest are on an awful run themselves - now just one place above the drop zone after reaching the play-offs last year.

The game got off to a low-key start with Gareth Taylor heading on to the roof of the net and having a low shot easily held down by Marcus Hahnemann.

These were the only half-chances until Shaun Goater lifted a left-foot shot over the bar on 28 minutes. Forster went closer six minutes later, as he chased a through-ball beyond the backline.

Amazingly, centre-back Wes Morgan made up ground on him and, just as Forster was poised to shoot, the defender tackled him and the chance was lost.

Forster wasn't to be denied, however, and on 41 minutes he set up the game's only goal.

Goater found him on the halfway line and the striker turned before slipping a superb pass for Murray, racing through the inside-right channel. Murray advanced and, in the box, coolly placed his low right-foot finish past Darren Ward and into the far corner.

Taylor went close with a header from six yards on the stroke of half-time. The Royals had looked solid if not spectacular.

After the break, the home side pressed and, apart from a shot over the bar by Forster on 68 minutes, most of the play was in the Royals' half.

But the Royals' midfield and defence displayed a fantastic work-rate and fighting spirit.

Forest had a Eugene Bopp shot stopped by Hahnemann while Morgan lashed a volley over from six yards. A Marlon King header also went over the bar from close-range.

There were interceptions, tackles and blocks aplenty, while Hahnemann took every cross that came into his zone.

This result should be a massive boost to the Royals and, with more performances like this, maybe the play-off spot that was looking unlikely is still an achievable target.

Reading (4-4-2): Hahnemann; Murty, Williams, Brown, Shorey; Murray (sub Hughes 89min), Sidwell, Watson, Salako; Goater (sub Owusu 76min), Forster. Subs not used: Young, Ingimarsson, Morgan.