Reading 0 Everton 2:Goals from Andrew Johnson and James McFadden allowed Everton to climb above Reading with a 2-0 win at the Madejski Stadium.

David Moyes' side were fully deserving of the points as Reading, who had surrendered a lead to lose to Blackburn a week ago, failed to create much.

Steve Coppell's side have enjoyed a fine 2006, surprising almost everyone by making an impressive start to life in the Premiership.

But with trips to Chelsea and then Manchester United now on the immediate horizon the Royals know they might be forced to start the new year in the bottom half of the table.

Everton on the other hand will now be looking at a joust for a UEFA Cup place and have Goodison Park appointments with Middlesbrough and Newcastle to confirm such credentials.

There had been an early moment of promise for the home side when Kevin Doyle made rapid progress into the Toffees' box only to barged off the pitch by Joleon Lescott.

Referee Steve Tanner allowed that to go unpunished and made a similar decision at the other end after the recalled McFadden, having been allowed access to the Reading box by Ivar Ingimarsson's slip, went down as Ibrahima Sonko challenged.

Everton had already taken a grip on the game however and took the lead in the 14th minute.

Mikel Arteta was the architect with the Spaniard, who had shaken off an ankle injury to play, first eluding Nicky Shorey on the right with a deft first touch.

His lay-back found Johnson, whose shot from 10 yards out was helped past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann off Sonko's boot.

It was the England international's seventh goal of the season but his first since September, ending a 12-game barren run.

Leon Osman was the next to catch the eye and the midfielder left the pitch at half-time wondering how he hadn't doubled Everton's lead.

Hahnemann was able to get behind his header from an Arteta free-kick but he was guilty of a bad miss after the Reading goalkeeper had saved a low effort from McFadden.

Steve Sidwell failed to intercept a Johnson back-heel, allowing the midfielder a clear sight of goal from the edge of the box but he failed to hit the target.

His next attempt was far better after Hahnemann had kept out a Lescott header, with the crossbar saving the home side in the 37th minute. Osman unleashed a rising drive from 20 yards out that had Hahnemann beaten, with the ball bouncing down and on to, but not over, the line.

Reading chances had been few and far between, with Glen Little stabbing one half chance weakly at Tim Howard.

But Steve Coppell's side did appear to have been denied a penalty in the 45th minute when Gary Naysmith, a last-minute replacement for Alan Stubbs, clipped the feet of Seol Ki-Hyeon just inside the box.

Again however referee Tanner was unmoved, to the home fans' loud displeasure.

McFadden needed fewer than two minutes after the restart to double Everton's lead as the home defence repeatedly failed to cope with danger that began with Johnson giving Ingimarsson the slip down the right.

Sonko failed to cut out the resulting cross and although skipper Graeme Murty, making his 300th Reading appearance, was there to help McFadden had little trouble firing past Hahnemann on the turn.

It was the Scot's first Premiership strike of the campaign but a second location of the net just four minutes later was ruled out, correctly, for offside.

Reading made a change in the 54th minute with Seol being replaced by Leroy Lita, who quickly turned Joseph Yobo to force Howard into a rare save.

Reading's already-receding hopes began to fade further when Harper missed a 67th-minute sitter, blazing over from eight yards after Lita had nodded a Little cross to the back post into his path.

Stephen Hunt was replaced by John Oster with 20 minutes remaining and Doyle was denied by a good save by Howard after the lively Lita had played the ball into his path in the box.

Harper again failed to hit the target form a good position inside the box before Everton swapped McFadden for James Beattie for the final quarter of an hour.

Howard denied Sidwell a late reply with a fine near post save to make sure there was no nervy finish for the Toffees.