This was Reading's first home win on a Saturday since February of this year - way back in Division Two. And this win shows just how far we've come since then. After struggling to scrape promotion from Division Two last season we've established a very healthy mid-table position in Division One. Reading are eight points clear of the relegation zone - and just four points out of the play-offs after this impressive win. This win was a very, very enjoyable one - beating expensive ex-Premiership opposition with some ease and a two goal margin. It was a superbly entertaining afternoon at the Madejski Stadium in front of a huge crowd of nearly 20,000 - by far Reading's biggest attendance of the season so far. Reading's 3-1 win cemented tenth place in the table for the Royals and made it four straight games unbeaten in the league.

Reading had Nicky Forster to thank for three goals that earnt the victory, and had Alan Pardew to thank for another excellently managed performance. As the game kicked off it was easy to feel more than a bit nervous about playing just a single striker up front in the shape of Nicky Forster. The inclusion of Harper was a suprise with Igoe left out on the bench. Playing at home with Cureton and Butler both on the bench seemed madness - but very quickly it clearly wasn't. It wasn't clear where Rougier was playing to begin with as he popped up on both wings and also managed to feature in defence - he was clearly given instructions to cause as much danger as possible - and that's exactly what he did during Reading's best spell - the opening 45 minutes. Rougier put the ball in the net in the first few minutes after taking the ball into the area on the left. The goal was ruled out after Forster had got involved in the move from an offside position. Rougier continued to cause all kinds of problems for a weak Ipswich defence from the right. A couple of times he cut in and could have put Reading ahead with some great balls into the middle. Forster had an effort saved from close range - any where else on the target and it would have seen Reading take an even earlier lead.

During a relatively even first half Reading went ahead just before the half hour when Forster put his head on a free kick at the far post to make it 1-0. It was an excellently taken goal - and must have been something worked out in training. Forster doubled the lead five minutes before the break with a fantastic goal from well outside the area wide on the right. His shot from distance flew across the face of the goal, beat the keeper, and powered into the far side of the net. Down the other end Marcus Hahnemann, back in goal for Reading, made a string of excellent saves to keep Reading ahead.

Ipswich pulled one back in the second half from a excellently taken free-kick, just outside the area on the right that flew into the net giving Hahnemann no chance at all. The goal threatened to bring Ipswich back into the game - they were just a goal behind with plenty of time remaining. It looked set to be a nervous end to the game until the 67th minute when Ipswich needlessly killed off their potential challenge when they were rightly reduced to ten men when Counago appeared to punch Adrian Williams. The rest of the game belonged to Reading who looked by far the better side, taking full advantage of the extra man. Forster wrapped up his hat-trick, and the win for Reading, with twenty minutes left to play when his pace cleared the defence and he broke into the area to score from the right. The goal had a hint of offside about it - and it wasn't the first time the linesman had failed to raise his flag. However it was all evened out later in the game when Reading looked to have broken through a couple of times and appeared to wrongly given offside.

Rougier's impressive pace and ability to pass players was so nearly matched by James Harper who was determined to put in a good performance to try and win a place in the side. Harper played hard all game long, while Rougier faded out during the second half before he limped off injured. Harper couldn't quite match Rougier's skill after taking the ball a bit too far on more than one occassion - however, he couldn't be faulted for effort and had an excellent game in the Reading midfield. Murty and Watson were two of the weakest players for Reading in the first half but both players improved dramatically in the second half as Reading took a grip on the game looking to play out time by keeping hold of the ball. Perhaps a sign of Reading's strength across the squad was indicated by the appearance of Butler and Cureton off the bench with three minutes to go. A lot of sides would love to be able to play these two together every game - but we were happy to keep them on the bench and win the game without their services. This was an excellent victory.
Graham

Following report from John Wells:

In a match which fully tested the Royals credentials as a First Division team Nicky Forster emerged as the hero with a superb hat-trick in a resounding victory. It was by no means a one man show. The whole team were worthy of praise for an outstanding team performance. The defence looked solid and the midfield never lost their grip on the game. The sending off of Counago came at a crucial time but in my opinion did little to influence the outcome of the game.

Reading signalled their intent in the first minute when Rougier found the net but unfortunately from an offside position. The Ipswich approach play was slick. They passed and moved fluently picking out their front pair of Bent and Counago with precise passes in to their feet. But Reading were playing some good stuff too and were generally on top through a willingness to work hard defensively and showing composure on the ball. The 4-5-1 formation with Forster up front worked well with Rougier a threat down the right and Harper filling in very effectively for Hughes in the attacking central midfield role. Newman and Watson were again providing good protection for the back four helping to stifle some promising moves from Ipswich.

Reading put the visitors under pressure for most of the half. Upson had a shot deflected wide, and when Rougier fooled the entire defence by turning sharply and getting to the line before firing in a good cross, Shorey really should have opened the scoring but his shot lacked power and Marshall made an easy save. Forster produced a shot on the turn which cleared the bar shortly before he rose to nod the ball over the Ipswich 'keeper from a free kick to give the Royals a deserved lead. Within a minute Hahnemann was forced to tip the ball over as Ipswich reminded us of the quality of their play. Five minute before the break Williams sent a ball down the right for Forster to chase. It is the sort of ball he thrives on. Outpacing the Ipswich defence he hit the ball with great power and accuracy to send it swerving wide of Marshall and inside the far post from well outside the area. The cries of "Forster for England" were perhaps a little optimistic but it was a certainly a strike of which any international player would have been proud.

Ipswich took off Bent at half time and brought on Armstrong but that didn't seem to make much difference. With half an hour left Ipswich won a free kick outside the area. The referee moved the wall back a good 12 yards and Ambrose smashed a great shot in off the bar. Ipswich had not really looked likely to score up to that point but the goal gave them and their subdued fans a lift. But not for long. Counago and Williams had been winding each other up all afternoon and in the end Adie clearly got the better of his opponent. An "off the ball" incident left Williams on the floor and the referee pulled out his red card. Two minutes later Harper put Forster through. Ipswich thought he was offside, but there was central defender playing him on, and with another superb strike just inside the far post Forster completed his hat-trick and killed off the game. Reading kept the ball well and could have added more goals. Harper hit another good through ball but the three Reading players running onto it were ludicrously given offside. Then Cureton, on for last couple of minutes, headed tamely at Marshall from close range. By then it didn't matter any more.

So what next? With performances like this anything is possible. There were superb individual performances today throughout the team notably Murty, Upson and Williams, but I was particularly pleased to see Harper get a full game. He has good touch and is very strong on the ball. He rarely gave it away and was always trying to get involved. No doubt he will be back on the bench when Hughes is fit again which is a pity because he really would develop into a better player if he was given a decent run in the team. It also has to be said that the work of Pardew and Dillon is paying off. Their tactics were spot on today, and the team looked extremely fit and full of running. Just one point Alan - do you really think Hughes is our best player? (BBC teletext quote). I suppose everyone is allowed one error of judgement now and again.