Struggling Reading gave their League One survival hopes a boost with a well-deserved victory at home to Wigan.
In a scrappy first half, Reading took a 34th-minute lead when Femi Azeez rifled home a superb left-footed shot from distance.
Sam Smith increased the lead five minutes into the second period and, with Wigan barely offering a threat, the hosts held on comfortably.
Reading had hit a moderate run of good form, with two wins and only one defeat in their previous five league matches.
Neither side impressed in a dour opening but Reading, after Azeez had already had one goalbound effort blocked, went ahead 11 minutes before the break.
A slick home move appeared to have broken down until Azeez latched on to the loose ball and thundered in a 20-yard rocket past keeper Sam Tickle.
Wigan should have levelled in first-half stoppage-time, but Charlie Wyke sent a free header wastefully wide from Liam Shaw’s excellent cross.
It proved costly, with Reading doubling their advantage early in the second period as Smith cleverly converted a precise centre from Amadou Mbengue.
Wigan offered little in response, apart from a Callum Lang free-kick that drifted narrowly wide, and Reading easily saw out the rest of the game.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Button
- 27MbengueSubstituted forMolaat 84′minutes
- 3Holmes
- 32AbbeyBooked at 56minsSubstituted forBindonat 84′minutes
- 20Dorsett
- 36Craig
- 11AzeezSubstituted forElliottat 73′minutes
- 29Wing
- 7Knibbs
- 12MukairuSubstituted forSavageat 85′minutes
- 10SmithSubstituted forEhibhatiomhanat 90+1′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Mola
- 4Elliott
- 8Savage
- 15Ehibhatiomhan
- 22Castro Pereira
- 24Bindon
- 42Vickers
Wigan
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Tickle
- 7ClareBooked at 47mins
- 4Morrison
- 5S Sessegnon
- 42McHughSubstituted forHumphrysat 69′minutesBooked at 75mins
- 16Shaw
- 21SmithSubstituted forSzeat 69′minutes
- 14Jones
- 20McManamanBooked at 57minsSubstituted forSmithat 60′minutes
- 19LangBooked at 90mins
- 9WykeBooked at 42mins
Substitutes
- 2Watts
- 11Humphrys
- 12Amos
- 18Smith
- 22Sze
- 26Adeeko
- 28Magennis
Live Text
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Match ends, Reading 2, Wigan Athletic 0.
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Second Half ends, Reading 2, Wigan Athletic 0.
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Callum Lang (Wigan Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Callum Lang (Wigan Athletic).
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Ben Elliott (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Charlie Wyke (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jeriel Dorsett (Reading).
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Attempt missed. Jordan Jones (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
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Sean Clare (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (Reading).
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Substitution, Reading. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan replaces Sam Smith.
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Attempt missed. Jordan Jones (Wigan Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Callum Lang.
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Substitution, Reading. Charlie Savage replaces Paul Mukairu.
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Substitution, Reading. Clinton Mola replaces Amadou Salif Mbengue.
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Substitution, Reading. Tyler Bindon replaces Nelson Abbey.
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Corner, Reading. Conceded by Sean Clare.
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Attempt blocked. Sam Smith (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Steven Sessegnon (Wigan Athletic).
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Amadou Salif Mbengue (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, Reading. Conceded by Liam Morrison.
