Relentless second half pressure finally delivered the goals Reading required to bounce back from a heavy away defeat at league leaders Portsmouth on Saturday to overcome a stubborn Vale side desperate for points under new manager Darren Moore. The only change from the weekend starting eleven was the introduction of Smith to replace Mukairu. After a dull opening forty-five minutes Lewis Wing finally broke the deadlock fourteen minutes from the end with another stunning strike from outside the box. A headed clearance from a Savage corner dropped to Wing who took a touch before drilling a ferocious shot past Vale 'keeper Ripley.

Reading had their chances in an untidy first half but, as on Saturday, the sharpness in front of goal was lacking. Azeez found Ehibhatiomhan unmarked at the far post with a cross, but his downward header was poor and when the ball came back to him off Ripley, his second bite at the cherry was even worse. Bindon shot just wide when the ball dropped to him following a corner. Four minutes before the interval Ehibhatiomhan completely miscued in front of goal, which pretty much summed up the first half. Vale's only attempt on target was a tame header from Chislett straight into Button's gloves.

Craig had a good first half in the holding midfield role but was replaced by Savage at half time, presumably to add more penetration to the passing in midfield. Reading stepped up the tempo and pinned Vale in their own half for long periods. The visitors manged to get behind the Reading back four a couple of times and Button was called upon to make his only significant save of the match from Wier three minutes into the second half. There were plenty of Reading players around, having tracked back, to snuff any threat from the loose ball.

Ripley was tested by Azeez when Smith slipped the ball to him on the right. His typically powerful strike was arrowing inside the far post before the Vale 'keeper at full stretch got a strong hand on it to divert the ball wide. Azeez, it has to be said, was below par in the first half, but after hoofing the ball high and wide when presented with a clear sight of goal, he settled down to inspire a dominant Reading second half performance. It was however, far from a one man show. Not that I would want to, but it was not possible to pick out any player who underperformed.

With chances coming and going as Reading pressure mounted, there were nagging doubts Vale might hit them with a sucker punch late in the game. On the hour a rare Vale attack produced a teasing cross which eluded a lone Vale striker, the Reading defence, and Button and sailed out of harm's way. Wing's brilliant opening goal was well deserved and had everyone on their feet. From that point on Reading never looked like losing and the game opened up with Reading exploiting the space as Vale committed players forward in search of an equaliser.

Azeez struck the bar from the edge of the box with a left-footed attempt, but the all-important and inevitable second goal came seven minutes from the end. Azeez drove a dangerous low ball into the six-yard box which a Vale defender failed to clear, and the ball fell to Elliot. Chaos ensued as Elliot's shot was blocked, as was Smith's attempt from the rebound before the typically alert Knibbs reacted fastest to lash the loose ball into the net from close range.

Having taken the lead Reading played with a fluency, almost a swagger, that comes from the confidence of a two-goal cushion. There is a lot of talent and ability in this young squad, and now crucially, they are also beginning to show the character, confidence and determination to complete and win games.

John Wells