Reading suffered only their second home defeat of the season as they lost 2-0 to Bristol City.
Adebola and Skuse strike in 2-0 victory for Bristol City
Reading suffered only their second home defeat of the season as they lost 2-0 to Bristol City.
Gary Johnson's Robins are also in the hunt for promotion and they took the lead through a Dele Adebola header in the 26th minute.
City continued to dominate and extended their advantage when Cole Skuse provided the final touch after a goalmouth scramble on 48 minutes.
The Robins kept the ball well early on but it was Steve Coppell's side who came close to opening the scoring against the run of play.
Leroy Lita was doing his best to unsettle his former employers and after he won the ball in the left channel he teed up Chris Armstrong for a speculative effort which lacked power but still beat Adriano Basso and hit the outside of the post.
But justice was done in the 26th minute when Adebola headed the Robins ahead.
A bright break was ended when Armstrong fouled Bradley Orr and from the resulting free-kick Michael McIndoe's inswinging cross evaded Alex Pearce for Adebola to head past Adam Federici from a matter of yards.
Only a last-ditch tackle by Liam Rosenior prevented Ivan Sproule from doubling the lead after Adebola had dummied a through-ball.
The reprieve was short-lived however as the Robins did double the lead just three minutes into the second half.
A long free-kick forward was again won in the air by Adebola and after Orr clipped the ball across Federici a bunch of players converged on the goal line.
Liam Fontaine saw his close-range effort blocked on the line by Pearce but after several more swipes at the ball the goal was awarded with midfielder Skuse eventually credited with applying the decisive touch.
The home fans got their wish as the ineffective captain James Harper was replaced by Marek Matejovsky but the Czech Republic international could make little impact.
Kevin Doyle and Lita did both blast half-chances over as the hosts looked in vain for a goal but it was the 4,500 travelling supporters who went home happy.
