Royals close the gap
By Andy Clarke. Last Updated: January 1, 1970 1:00am
Reading extended their club record unbeaten run to 21 matches with a 3-1 victory over Hull which moves them within one point of Championship leaders Sheffield United.
Bobby Convey's goal was cancelled out by Nick Barmby, but Kevin Doyle (pictured) and Glen Little struck to give Steve Coppell's side all three points.
Convey went close in the opening minutes when his shot was brilliantly tipped over by fellow American Boaz Myhill in the Hull goal.
But the United States international was not to be denied as he put Reading ahead with a firm shot beyond Myhill's left hand in the seventh minute.
Barmby drew The Tigers level shortly after the break when he nodded in from close range after Mark Lynch's cross was flicked on by Ben Burgess.
Stung by the equaliser Reading, who were without suspended top scorer Dave Kitson, upped the tempo as they chased a third consecutive win.
And they got their reward when they struck twice in the space of two minutes to wrap up the points.
Doyle got the first - his fifth of the season - when he turned in the impressive Convey's cross before Little fired in from just inside the penalty area.
Leroy Lita, returning after a shin injury, was denied by three good saves from Myhill as he attempted to add further gloss to the result.
Matches
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npower Championship
Table
npower Championship
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 46 | 87 |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 46 | 75 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 72 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 68 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 68 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 61 |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 59 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 58 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 58 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 58 |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 56 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 55 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Bristol City | 46 | 41 |
Glen Little
Nick Barmby
Bobby Convey
Kevin Doyle
