Reading promoted to Premier League after beating Nottingham Forest

17 April 2012 21:07
Mikele Leigertwood was the toast of Reading as he booked their place back among England's elite. [LNB]Leigertwood scored an 81st-minute winner to secure promotion back into the Barclays Premier League for the first time since 2008. [LNB]The champagne had been put on ice for the Championship leaders, with promotion within distance.[LNB] Tussle: Paul Anderson of Nottingham Forest tackles Reading Jimmy Kebe (right) [LNB] [LNB]But a celebratory tipple was the last thing on Brian McDermott's mind ahead of kick-off as the Reading manager tried to keep his side focused despite the prospect of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie next season. [LNB]Dampening the party atmosphere among the home support, however, was a harder task as deafening cries of 'we are going up' echoed around the Madejski before kick-off. [LNB][LNB] MATCH FACTS Reading: Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, Kebe, Leigertwood, Mullins, McAnuff, Roberts, Hunt (Le Fondre 58). [LNB]Subs not used: McCarthy, Gunnarsson, Church, Afobe.[LNB]Goals: Leigertwood 82[LNB]Booked: Kebe [LNB]Nottm Forest: Camp, Wootton (Reid 84), Chambers, Lynch, Elokobi, Gunter, Guedioura, McGugan (Greening 84), Anderson, Majewski (Tudgay 84), Blackstock. [LNB]Subs not used: Smith, Cunningham.[LNB]Booked: Wooton, Lynch [LNB]Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey)[LNB]Click here for the latest Championship table, fixtures and results [LNB]Reading knew what was required: better West Ham's result at Bristol City and they were a Premier League side again. [LNB]That didn't bother Nottingham Forest one iota. A run of one defeat in seven games ahead of the clash had helped Steve Cotterill's men to the brink of Championship safety, and Coventry's defeat confirmed their survival, whatever the result here. [LNB]The size of the prize in front of Reading looked to have got the better of the home side as they got off to a timid start. But, as news filtered through of West Ham taking the lead at Ashton Gate, Reading began to take a grip on things. [LNB]Wingers Jobi McAnuff and Jimmy Kebe started to cause problems, while Jason Roberts' strength was keeping centre backs Joel Lynch and Luke Chambers well occupied. [LNB]As the home crowd reacted to Bristol City's equaliser against the Hammers, McDermott's men thought they had one foot inside the Premier League in the 20th minute. [LNB]Noel Hunt beat Forest keeper Lee Camp to a looping McAnuff cross from the left and the Irishman's header hit the bar before Roberts headed into an unguarded net from close range. But the on-loan forward's glee was short-lived as referee Gavin Ward chalked off the effort, ruling Hunt had impeded Camp. [LNB] Under pressure: Reading forward Noel Hunt and Forest's Joel Lynch (right) battle for the ball[LNB]Three minutes later there was more action in Forest's goalmouth as defenders Kaspars Gorkss and Scott Wootton contested a header from Ian Harte's left-footed free-kick. [LNB]Instead of the ball ending up in the back of net, both Gorkss and Wootton were left on the deck in the six-yard box after a nasty looking clash of heads which left both needing extensive treatment. [LNB]Dexter Blackstock fired a timely reminder to Reading in the 31st minute, unleashing a smart left-foot shot after turning Alex Pearce excellently. Adam Federici did well to hold the effort. [LNB]Hayden Mullins saw his strike from the edge of the box well parried by Camp seven minutes from the break as the promotion chasers turned up the heat in the closing stages of the first half. [LNB]An unmarked Hunt missed Reading's first chance of the second half as he sent his header from Kebe's well-flighted cross wide.[LNB] The Irishman missed again moments later as he sent another header wide from Harte's dangerous centre. But Forest came mightily close to taking a spectacular lead in the 57th minute.[LNB] Lewis McGugan's corner caused problems and full back George Elokobi sent an acrobatic overhead kick inches over Reading's bar. [LNB]McDermott responded by sending on supersub Adam Le Fondre and, with West Ham having drawn, the moment Reading had waited for arrived nine minutes from time when Leigertwood rammed in Harte's corner.[LNB] Click here for the latest Championship table, fixtures and results Read the latest from Sportsmail's brilliant Football League BlogAfter months of slugging it out, Championship clubs are bracing themselves for... 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