What a fantastic night and really good to have a walk on the pitch again - just like after the Derby game 6 years ago! We might not have been at our best but I thought that was more to do with how well Forest played. They have been on a very good run themselves and are really improving now so all credit to them for trying to spoil the party - but I am so glad that they failed in the end. Fantastic evening and a fantastic season. Congratulations to Brian and every member of the squad. With everything Brian had go deal with after Wembley this was a much greater achievement than 05-06 IMO.
andrew1957

As a game not likely to live long in the memory but what a night.
Thought Forest were decent and didn't deserve to lose last night and, on that showing, I'm not sure why they're at the wrong end of the table. Not sure what happened in the build up to the free kick that led to the goal as the east stand lino had flagged for offside moments before but then put his flag down. It might have been this that Elokobi was so riled about (I thought tho that he was their poorest player - built like a brick shithouse but not a left back).
Ledge was my MOTM even before he scored - blocked, tackled and harried throughout. Also thought Mullins was ok, not as effective as Jem but not at all bad. Jimmy had his moments but Forest doubled and tripled against him limiting his opportunities to shine. Roberts was excellent but given no protection by the ref (who seemed to be using a random decision generator throughout). Loved the cheeky grin to the east stand after playing the ball off a Forest player to win a throw in.
Now to win the title this weekend.
Wingnut

I've lost count. Six or seven times I have witnessed us getting promoted. NEVER EVER get tired of it. Tonight was a tough game. That aside, the atmosphere was ELECTRIC. Once news of the draw between BCFC/WHU hit Y26/Y25/Y24 then the remaining minutes were superb. Like everyone else on this thread that has 'previous' in terms of watching RFC over the years, you can't buy nights like tonight. Just brilliant. Even the stewards allowed us to pour on the pitch at the end.
Am going to love Saturday. And am going to have a very rare relaxing away day at Birmingham.
To anyone who doubted us, and you know who you are, you should feel a little embarrassed. Reading Football Club, the owners, the management, the players....you should all take a bow. Having suffered that gut wrenching day just 11 months ago at Wembley, you have re-grouped and have earned EXACTLY what you deserve.
Reading FC? Just a unique club. I am proud to be a Reading fan, and equally proud to say I will always be a Reading fan.
Barney

Quite simply one of the most unbelievable amazing nights ever I've ever witness having watch Reading Football Club for many many years. IMHO I consider to this be our great achievement in the long history of the club. With the squad and start to league this season plus the run in over the last few weeks, this run has been simply amazing. It's not over yet, let's now go on and lift the Championship , I've no doubt we'll do it. Leigertwood you are a god. Still high as a kite nearly 15 hours post final whistle, still not come down from Southampton !! UURRRZZZZ
Nick Newbury

Wow. Having been a Royals fan for about 46 years, this really takes the biscuit. Step forward Brian McDermott, a Reading legend. Thanks Sir John, as there wouldn't be a Reading football club without you. Since end of January being a Royals fan has been amazing. This run has been the highlight of all the time I've been a fan. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be there and had to follow the game on Internet text. Contrast last night to a Saturday in the seventies when I was on a single coach containing all the players, officials and fans to an away game. This club has grown out of all recognition and I can see us getting established in the Premier League this time. One last push - let's be champions. Come on URZZZ!
Hannover Royal

There was a heartfelt leap of celebration from Brian McDermott on the touchline of a near-delirious Madejski Stadium as Reading sealed promotion to the Premier League with two games still to play. Needing to better West Ham's result at Bristol City to go up, it had taken a patient performance from the home team to break down a stubborn Nottingham Forest, Mikele Leigertwood's close-range finish in the 81st minute completing a deserved elevation for McDermott's upwardly mobile Royals.

At the final whistle Reading supporters invaded the pitch from all corners, mobbing players and coaching staff and passing Leigertwood over their heads like a crowd-surfing stadium rocker. The revels continued long into the night, with even the popular chairman, John Madejski, shrugging off his usual urbane, quiet manners to appear on the directors' balcony punching the air to wild acclaim.

It was a celebration tinged with optimism for what next season may bring: Reading have been near-untouchable in the past two months, winning 15 of their past 17 matches...

It took a while on the night, though. Before kick off the lightweight Meccano seams of the Madejski were thrumming with pre-promotion excitement as a crowd of 22,899 welcomed McDermott's team with a wall of convivial Thames Valley triumphalism...

Despite news that Bristol City had equalised against West Ham, there was some restlessness among the home crowd as Forest pressed... After the interval Reading emerged showing signs of a managerial geeing up, with Jimmy Kebe in particular lively down the right, but it was George Elokobi who had the first chance, his overhead volley from a free-kick on the right flying just over the bar. Still Forest defended stoutly as the home team, frankly, began to look a little flat on their big night.

The introduction of Adam Le Fondre lifted the mood and his pace took him clear of Joel Lynch on 65 minutes, only for his orange-booted dink to drift wide of goal. There was a little more in the way of pressure from the home team but, with Guedioura prompting skilfully in the middle of the pitch, if anything it was the away team who looked more of a threat. Finally news emerged that West Ham had drawn 1-1 in their earlier kick-off: 10 minutes for Reading to score a promotion-sealing goal. As it turned out they needed only one of them. Ian Harte's free-kick from the left was curled in enticingly, for once Forest failed to clear and Leigertwood was there to hook the ball home from close range and embark on a half-lap of celebration. There was still time for Marcus Tudgay to have a shot cleared off the line, but the script was written and this was Reading's night.
The Guardian

Mikele Leigertwood was the hero as his late goal secured Reading's promotion back to the Premier League. Leigertwood converted an Ian Harte free-kick to send the Royals into the top flight after four years away. Brian McDermott's side were not at their best but have now secured 46 points from a possible 51. Although they were beaten, Forest cannot be relegated from the Championship after Coventry lost at home to Millwall.

Reading were beaten by Swansea in the play-off final last May, but, despite selling striker Shane Long to West Brom and captain Matt Mills to Leicester last summer, they have recovered to win promotion with two games to spare. They found themselves down in 16th on 1 November after a slow start to the season, but a run of 15 wins in the last 17 games has propelled them up the league. With owner John Madejski on the brink of selling the club to Russian tycoon Anton Zingarevich's Thames Sports Investment group, the future now looks bright in Berkshire. McDermott's side now have two games to battle Southampton for the Championship title. The Saints need two more points to guarantee joining the Royals in the top flight - though West Ham could also still win automatic promotion.

After a scrappy start, Reading had the ball in the net after 19 minutes, only for Jason Roberts' tap-in to be ruled out after Noel Hunt was penalised for a foul on Forest goalkeeper Lee Camp. Reading keeper Adam Federici then had to save from Adlene Guedioura and Dexter Blackstock, before Royals' substitute Adam Le Fondre saw his chip drift just wide of the post. The home crowd were lifted with news that promotion rivals West Ham had only drawn with Bristol City, and moments later the winner came when Leigertwood buried from close range after Harte's free-kick was not cleared. Forest came close to snatching a point and keeping the champagne on ice, but substitute Marcus Tudgay's header was cleared off the line by Alex Pearce with the striker's follow-up effort being kept out by Federici, to put Reading back in the top flight.
The final whistle saw emotional scenes as thousands of fans poured on to the Madejski Stadium pitch to celebrate a return to the top flight.
BBC Sport