Reading slip into deeper trouble

Reading 1 Aston Villa 2: Aston Villa outclassed Reading at the Madejski Stadium to bring their dream of Champions League football nearer to reality and push their opponents closer towards relegation.

Goals from Ashley Young and substitute Marlon Harewood were enough to take the points against a side who have now lost a club record eight successive league fixtures and appear incapable of saving themselves.

Villa could have triumphed by a much larger margin, especially as Gareth Barry missed a first-half penalty.

Nicky Shorey's 90th-minute free-kick consolation - Reading's first goal in 540 minutes of play - had no bearing on the game.

Reading chairman John Madejski had called for the fans to turn the stadium into a "cauldron of optimism" but although James Harper planted a shot into Scott Carson's midriff within 30 seconds, it quickly became apparent Villa would simply not allow any release from the paralysis that has gripped the home side's season.

Young's fourth goal of the campaign may have taken 45 minutes to arrive but when it did, it was merely the inevitable result of his side's superiority and the home players' lack of confidence.

Cisse sold himself on the right touchline to allow the fit-again Gabriel Agbonlahor to race away, it was inevitable that Martin O'Neill's side would finally gain the advantage they deserved.

Agbonlahor squared the ball to Young, who had all the time and space in the box to make sure his shot was high enough to beat Hahnemann and Graeme Murty, the man on the line.

The hapless Cisse was replaced by Ivar Ingimarsson for the final 19 minutes and Villa sent Harewood on for Shaun Maloney. Harewood trundled a shot at Hahnemann but Villa counter-attacks were becoming incessant and the American was required to block a Carew effort after Sonko had once again been easily bypassed.

Hahnemann had to beat out a much fiercer Harewood drive as Reading fought against the tide but the troublesome newcomer's next effort was so wide it went for a throw-in.

The former West Ham man was not to be denied however and he wrapped the game up for the visitors with a fine finish in the 83rd minute after a rampage upfield from Young had left Reading totally exposed.

Kitson and then Hunt saw good efforts blocked before Shorey's free-kick in stoppage-time at last beat Carson. The final whistle was just seconds away however and there was no time for any attempt for an undeserved equaliser.