Reading still look to come forward and Convey works a nice one two to create space but Green makes a superb save to deny Cisse.

Cole does well to work some space and sends a lovely cross into the middle but Spector heads straight into the arms of Hahnemann.

The Hammers are looking lively up front but Carlton Cole's effort on the turn is turned away by the legs of Marcus Hahnemann.

Readign are throwing everything at West Ham as time runs out but if it is not Ferdinand, it is Upson who is stopping the Royals from breaking through.

Robert Green makes amends and saves Kevin Doyle's penalty to keep the lead intact and the way Reading's luck has been in this game, it almost came as no surprise.

Kitson, under pressure from Ferdinand, does well to feed the ball into the centre but Lita wastes the golden chance to get his side back into the game as he stabs wide.

The Hammers cut through Reading again to set Etherington through one on one with the keeper but Hahnemann makes a great save to keep the score at 2-0.

There has been barely a sniff in front of goal for Lita or Doyle as Ferdinand and Upson continue to dominate at the back for West Ham.

West Ham continue to look menacing when they attack but this time Bowyer sliced his shot wide after some good build-up play from the away side.

Steve Coppell's men are seeing a lot of the ball at the moment but they are struggling to break down the Hammers, led superbly at the back by Anton Ferdinand.

Reading win another corner and Duberry again gets on the end of Hunt's delivery only to head wide.

Alan Curbishley will be delighted at the way his side has started the second half after missing a number of chances in the first half and they look good to add to their tally

Reading win a corner down the left. It is taken quickly to Doyle and his lay-off is met perfectly by Hunt but he sees his curling shot hit the crossbar and go over.

West Ham break forward and free Bowyer down the middle but his shot from 25 yards is always rising and the chance goes.

Reading win a corner down the left and the cross is met by Duberry, but he is always stretching for the ball and can't keep his header down.

Alan Curbishley's game plan is working to perfection at the moment as they are frustrating the home side and keeping chances at an absolute minimum.

The Royals are beginning to get on top and are pegging the Hammers back but they just can't find that final ball to fashion an equaliser.

Reading earn a free kick down the left after a clumsy foul by Lucas Neill and the ball ricochets around in the Hammers box before bouncing wide for a goal-kick.

The home side have a good shout for a penalty after Lita let the ball run across him and was seemingly fouled by Ferdinand but the referee waves away the appeals.

The Royals earn a free kick down the right and it is whipped in by Nicky Shorey but Lita's glancing header is wide of the target.

Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Upson have kept both Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle under wraps which is stopping Reading from exerting any consistent pressure.

Marcus Hahnemann breathes a huge sigh of relief after he fumbled a routine ball into the middle but Ashton's touch could only take the ball behind for a goal-kick.

The game certainly has come to life now with both teams looking to get forward at every opportunity but West Ham are just shading the play.

Etherington works his magic again down the left and crosses to Mark Noble in the middle, but his shot is blazed well over the bar.

The Hammers work the ball down the left for Matthew Etherington whose cross is met by Ashton but Marcus Hahnemann gathers his volley quite comfortably.

Reading work the ball nicely around to free James Harper but Matthew Upson comes out to make an important block and the shot bounces wide.

A clinical piece of forward play has been the difference in this game so far as there have been no other chances at all.

Reading create some space for Stephen Hunt down the left but his cross is too cclose to the keeper and Robert Green punches well clear.

Dean Ashton, making his first start since the 2006 Cup Final, is already involved in the thick of the action and looks set for a mighty tussle with Michael Duberry.