One Game From Play-Off Finish

26 April 2014
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading find themselves on the verge of a play-off finish after a vital 3-1 away victory at Doncaster Rovers. Once again, Reading's play-off rivals failed to pick up points. Ipswich and Nottingham Forest both lost their fixtures - and Wigan also lost allowing Reading to jump to fifth in the table. Ignoring the maths, and assuming that Wigan will claim a play-off position finish with the advantage of an additional game to play, it's now a battle between Reading and Brighton for the play-offs. Blackburn could make it but are 7 goals worse off than the Royals and a very unlikely bet.

Nottingham Forest can no longer make the play-offs but it will still be a tough match for Brighton when they travel to Nottingham on the final day of the season next Saturday afternoon. Reading will face second placed Burnley at the Madejski knowing a win will take them into the play-offs - and they may sneak in with less. It will probably be a very tense afternoon for fans of Reading and Brighton - and possibly even Wigan.

Brighton left it late to beat Yeovil 2-0 at home last night, and Reading left it even later this afternoon. Brighton fans must have been getting excited when Doncaster took a first half lead going in to the half time break. Reading have normally folded when going behind this season, with recoveries very rare indeed. However today was different as Reading hit back with three second half goals.

Le Fondre pulled Reading level after going down in the area and then stepped up to convert the penalty kick on 63 minutes. Pogrebnyak potentially rescued the season, and Reading's promotion hopes, with a crucial goal with four minutes left to play - heading home to send the travelling fans wild. With Doncaster pressing for a late equaliser, Pogrebnyak broke free in injury time to seal the victory and make the Championship league table look much healthier for the Royals with just that single crunch game to play.

• Doncaster Rovers 1 Reading 3

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