Jobi McAnuff starred as Reading climbed out of the relegation zone on Saturday with a win at Coventry.
Midfielder steals the show as visitors end barren run
Jobi McAnuff starred as Reading climbed out of the relegation zone on Saturday with a win at Coventry.
The former Watford winger, who jumped ship along with under-fire boss Brendan Rodgers to the Madejski stadium last summer, scored and made two for Grzegorz Rasiak as the Royals ended their run of four successive defeats with a 3-1 success at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues did find the net through Freddy Eastwood after failing to score in their last three games but it was of little consequence for Chris Coleman's men, who extend their winless run in the league to five.
Reading were woeful in front of goal against Leicester on Monday night but it took them just 27 seconds to get the opener.
The lively McAnuff made progress down the right and crossed for Rasiak to head into the top corner from close range.
It was a reflection of Reading's frenzied start as they overran Coventry.
Ryan Bertrand tested Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, who was starting in place of the injured Kieren Westwood, with a left-footed shot.
Then Royals striker Simon Church offered only a feeble shot when through on goal.
The Reading frontman was among the worst offenders against the Foxes and again struggled to find a ruthless touch.
City chances
Coventry had chances of their own.
Ben Turner forced a block from Ivar Ingimarsson, who was returning from suspension, and goalkeeper Adam Federici fielded a Eastwood's volley.
Federici then pulled off a good save from defender Jermaine Grandison's forceful header.
Grandison was called into action at the other end, blocking Church's 20-yard effort as Reading continued to look the more dangerous.
McAnuff threatened to give the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead as he surged in from his station on the right and let fly a left-foot shot. But Konstantopoulos saved and Coventry survived.
However, Reading did not take long to extend their lead and McAnuff was again on hand to make the difference.
Ingimarsson's corner was cleared by Grandison but only reached as far as a lurking McAnuff and the winger's shot soared into the top-left corner from 12 yards.
The Royals could have added to their lead but Rasiak's shot was save by Konstantopoulos.
Best inclusion
With his team visibly struggling, Sky Blues boss Chris Coleman looked to his bench and top scorer Leon Best and the striker, on his return from injury, made an immediate impact.
He picked up possession on the right and located strike partner Eastwood, who fired past Federici from 20 yards.
Jack Cork had already forced Federici to tip a stinging shot over the bar as Coventry fought to hard.
But Sky Blues' rising hopes of an equaliser plummeted when Rasiak followed up McAnuff's shot, which had rebounded off the post, to restore Reading's two goal advantage.
The goal knocked any ambition out of Coventry and they failed to mount so much as an attack in the closing stages.
