Doyle delight for Royals

Kevin Doyle's ninth goal of the season maintained Reading's 100 per cent home record with a 2-1 win over Doncaster.

Striker's ninth of season maintains Reading record

Kevin Doyle's ninth goal of the season maintained Reading's 100 per cent home league record with a hard-fought win over Doncaster. Andre Bikey's close-range header gave Steve Coppell's men the advantage after 18 minutes, but Jos van Nieuwstadt's equaliser with 16 minutes remaining threatened to snatch a point for the visitors. Reading dominated the match and were rewarded for their efforts just two minutes later when Doyle converted substitute James Harper's cross to give the Royals their fourth win in five matches. Bikey broke the monotony of a cagey start after eight minutes with a wild effort from 35 yards that went well wide of the left post. Six minutes later, Bikey was more effective at the other end when he headed James Chambers' dangerous cross over the bar after the visitors had made a quick break from their own half. After extended periods of pressure, the Cameroon international eventually made the breakthrough for the home side after 18 minutes. Stephen Hunt played a pinpoint cross from the right side of the penalty area and Bikey headed home from six yards. The visitors tried to find their way back into the game, but their excellent passing moves were unable to unlock the home defence. Midfielder Martin Woods typified their first-half performance in the 28th minute with a speculative strike from 35 yards that sailed wide of Marcus Hahnemann's goal. Jimmy Kebe then missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double Reading's advantage. Stephen Hunt was once again the provider, but Kebe headed wide from close range after the Ireland international had picked him out with a precise cross.

Dominated

Coppell's men dominated the opening stages of the second half as they pushed for a second goal. Stephen Hunt fired in successive corners five minutes after the interval as the Rovers defence struggled to cope with his excellent deliveries. Noel Hunt came close to adding to Reading's lead in the 53rd minute, but his poor effort from six yards ballooned over the bar. Injured defender Chambers was replaced by Gareth Roberts two minutes later as the situation looked bleak for the visitors. Doyle came close to compounding their misery shortly after when Hahnemann's long punt upfield deceived the Rovers backline, but the Ireland international was denied by goalkeeper Neil Sullivan. The home side eventually paid for squandering a host of chances when Van Nieuwstadt celebrated his first start of the season with a goal after 74 minutes. James Coppinger terrorised the Reading defence, before providing an inch-perfect cross that the Dutch defender nodded home from six yards. Doyle made amends for his earlier miss by restoring Reading's lead two minutes later. Harper crossed from the right and Doyle nodded home from close range to give Reading a deserved victory.