With Steve Brown out injured John Mackie started alongside Adrian Williams in the centre of defence - other changes saw the introduction of Nathan Tyson into the starting eleven with John Salako back on the bench. Otherwise Reading lined up as expected with Forster playing up front. The rare defensive pairing of Mackie and Williams became even more unusual after just thirty six minutes when Williams limped off to be replaced with Viveash - adding to Reading's worries about the availability of players to pick for the centre of defence. Viveash's appearance from the bench made it his first game of the season for the Royals, with his only action of the season coming during his loan spell at Oxford United in the Third Division earlier this season. Despite the problems in defence on paper Mackie and Viveash did well throughout the remainder of the first half as they restricted Norwich to mostly long range efforts as Reading managed to keep the scores level at half time.

The home side perhaps enjoyed the best of the first half possession with the majority of the ball but the balance of play was quite even. Despite Norwich having plenty of the ball they failed to really test Hahnemann in the Reading goal despite getting in a few shots. Early attempts saw the ball just over the Reading crossbar and just wide of the target. The most dangerous attempts of the first half belong to the Royals as they attempted to get the goal on the break. James Harper took advantage of a mistake in the Norwich defence with a first time hit shot that hit the inside of the Norwich post. Moments after that, just before the half time whistle, Nicky Forster was delivered the ball on the right and put in a shot that was just wide of the far post when he might have done better to cross to the lively Tyson who was steaming into the area looking to get on the scoresheet. The first half ended with City getting in another shot that was well over the Reading crossbar as they continued to look unlikely to break through.

After a limited amount of real goalmouth action during the opening forty five minutes and a lack of any real excitement, the second half got off to a livelier start. The first shot of the half belonged to Nathan Tyson who got in an early effort that was well wide. Norwich responded with another effort that sailed harmlessly wide of Hahnemann's goal. Norwich finally managed to get a shot in on target but Reading continued to look capable up front with Tyson and Forster both getting in shots that required the Norwich keeper to make a stop.

Reading continued to have the slight edge up front despite the otherwise even balance of the action. When Reading did get on the scoresheet it was no suprise to see Nathan Tyson involved in the goal. Reading took the lead with less than twenty minutes left to play when Nathan Tyson put in a dangerous cross into the Norwich area. With the ball just needing a touch to put it into the back of the net it came from the Norwich defender, Kenton, who nudged it into the back of the net from close range as he attempted to get in the way of the cross. 1-0 to the Royals, and a vital goal to cement Reading's position above Norwich in the play-off positions. With Tyson's job done he was replaced by Salako to help keep hold of the ball and the win.

WIth time running out Norwich failed to step up the pace to hunt for the equaliser and Reading started playing it around to play out time and take the three points with limited pressure. The home side lacked any real urgency until the dying few minutes when they managed a weak header but not much more than that. It might have taken an own goal to win the game but Reading deserved the win for looking the better of the two sides and having a slight edge throughout all departments. It certainly wasn't a classic game but this was a classic 1-0 away victory in many ways that puts us a step closer confirming our place in the First Division play-offs this season.