Sheffield United took the lead after just three minutes after Adrian Williams conceeded a free-kick on the edge of the box. The resulting kick flew into the back of the net after soaring over the wall and dipping into the top left corner of the net giving Hahnemann little chance. After taking the lead it was pretty much all one way traffic with the home side threatening to extend the lead. Another free-kick was just wide of the Hahnemann's right post and moments after that the Reading keeper needed to make a solid save to prevent United going further ahead. Reading's first attempt down the other end came after 15 minutes when Shorey hit one right across the face of goal that was well wide of the target.

After some more nervous moments down Reading's end the Royals eventually started to get into the game with Shorey again getting involved with a free-kick that needed a decent save as it dipped nicely under the crossbar. The resulting corner came to nothing but was certainly a relief from the pressure from the home side. Chadwick nearly found himself played through by Shorey as the defender enjoyed an excellent first half, with Reading enjoying a good spell on the attack. Moments later Reading had a chance to pull level when Forster won the ball deep in the opposition half and should have crossed to Hughes who was unmarked in the centre of the United area but instead he put in a weak shot straight to Kenny in the United goal.

Brown got another shot in on target for the home side before Reading were rewarded for their hard work to get back into the game. Reading equalised after Hughes did all the hard work with a great run forward, shrugging off a couple of players, and putting a shot into the area that was deflected out to Nicky Forster who was charging into the box. Forster made no mistake from closs range and stuck it home to make it 1-1 and pull Reading level.

Just before the half-time break a fast United attack saw the ball deflected over the Reading cross-bar for a corner as the ball was crossed in. The resulting corner was punched clear by Marcus Hahnemann. Shortly afterwards there was danger again for Reading as the home side finished the first half looking the stronger side when a cross narrowly missed a whole stack of Sheffield United players waiting for the ball at the far post. An entertaining first half with both sides capable of winning it in the second half.

Just after the restart Chadwick cut the ball back across the area, and Nicky Forster blasted a shot in towards the target which came back out off a United defender rather than finding the back of the net. Sheffield United managed a poor shot that flew well over the crossbar in a quieter start to the second half after a lively opening 45 minutes. Chadwick and Forster combined nearly getting a break through. Forster saw a shot saved moments after as Reading started to step up the pace of the half - but put the ball straight at the keeper giving him a simple save. Down the other end United failed to break through after falling foul to the Reading off-side trap.

Andy Hughes, having an excellent game for the Royals in midfield and looking very lively, nearly created a chance for himself after beating a man and getting a shot in. Unfortunately his effort was well wide of the target, steaming past the left side of the goal. On 63 minutes young Nathan Tyson replaced John Salako, who had had a decent but slightly quieter game, as Reading look to grab the winner. Tyson had a near immediate impact with an excellent powerful shot from the left side of the area, from distance, which needed to be pushed over the United crossbar.

With less than twenty minutes to go Reading took the advantage. Firstly Hughes got a shot in saved by the keeper and moments later Forster set up Hughes again whose shot was pushed over by the goalkeeper. A shot either side of the keeper and Reading would have been ahead. But it made no difference - from the resulting corner the ball came out to Adrian Williams who smashed it into the roof of the Sheffield United net to put Reading 2-1 up. With a win for Reading meaning they'll replace United in third place in the table the home side came straight into life and had the ball over the Reading goalline - but it was disallowed well before for offside.

United started to push forward and Reading took full advantage with Tyson playing a major part yet again. He skipped past Peschisolido down the left and was nearly hacked down, but instead he cut inside and pulled the ball back delivering it to Nicky Forster in the middle who drove it home to make it 3-1 to the Royals and surely put the game past United, who were favourites for the victory before the kick-off. A massive goal to put Reading two clear goals up!

Tyson's power down the left continued to create problems for the home side as Reading looked to move further ahead in the dying minutes. Forster nearly connected with another cross, and had he timed his run differently it might have been the fourth. With the ninety minutes all up Hughes nearly set up Sidwell with a cross but he missed it and it was offside anyway. However, the game was already well won. 3-1, an amazing result!!