Reading have increased the gap between themselves and bottom-of-the-table Queens Park Rangers with a narrow 1-0 win over West Ham United this afternoon.
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The hosts made a perfect start to the match when Pavel Pogrebnyak gave them the lead after just five minutes. The former Fulham striker latched onto James Collins's poor backpass before slotting the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
West Ham came close to levelling the sides halfway through the first period when Winston Reid got on the end of Kevin Nolan's cross, only to see Adam Federici tip his effort over the bar.
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Nolan had a chance of his own just before the break, firing in a shot on the turn which Federici was once again equal to.
The Hammers continued to knock on the door in the second half, with Carlton Cole going close eight minutes after the restart having been found by Matt Jarvis.
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The Royals came within inches of making it 2-0 just past the hour mark when Jem Karacan fired in an effort from outside the box, but it came back off the crossbar and Jimmy Kebe fired the rebound over the top.
Ricardo Vaz Te then squandered a fine opportunity to grab an equaliser with less than 10 minutes left, but he somehow missed the ball with his head from just six yards out.
Reading managed to hold out, however, to claim just their second win of the season and lift themselves off the foot of the table.
Barney Corkhill
