Forster's finishing contrasts with Blades' inability to show cutting edge

Sheffield United 1 Reading 3

Despite their Cup successes, the knockout competition Sheffield United most want to win is the short, sharp one at the end of the season, but their play-off charge is faltering badly. This was their third successive league defeat, and allowed Reading to leapfrog them into third place in the First Division.

Two goals from Reading's lone striker Nicky Forster with one from captain Adie Williams sandwiched between them more than annulled Michael Brown's early strike for the Blades. And it would have been much worse but for goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who single-handedly kept United's hopes alive as Reading's five-man midfield gained a stranglehold on the match in the second period. "We could have scored two or three early on," said Blades' manager Neil Warnock, "But then we got punished and, in the end, Reading thoroughly deserved to win."

It had started so well for his side, the adrenaline of Saturday's FA Cup victory over Walsall propelling them into an early lead. Brown's 25-yard free-kick after Dean Windass had been brought down by Williams was struck sweetly into the top corner. It can only have increased the likelihood that he will leave Bramall Lane if United's Premiership ambitions are dashed.

After goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann had tipped over Stuart McCall's diagonal drive round the post and fullback Phil Jagielka headed over from close range, the tide turned and Reading were on terms again 10 minutes before the interval. Forster, who had shot tamely at Kenny after dispossessing Robert Page, quickly made amends by converting a deflected Andy Hughes shot. Reading then proved unstoppable, with Kenny denying Forster, Nathan Tyson and Hughes in quick succession. But in the 75th minute he could parry Hughes' shot only as far as Williams, who tucked the loose ball away at the post. Six minutes later Forster turned in substitute Tyson's fiercely driven cross from a tight angle to round off a well-deserved Reading victory.

Sheffield United (4-4-2): Kenny; Jagielka, Page, Murphy, Quinn; M Brown, McCall, Javary (Cas, 72), Tonge; Windass (Allison, 39), Kabba (Peschisolido, 66). Substitutes not used: Yates, Mooney.

Reading (4-5-1): Hahnemann; Murty, Williams, S Brown, Shorey; Chadwick, Salako (Tyson, 64), Hughes, Sidwell, Harper; Forster (Henderson, 90). Substitutes not used: Watson, Mackie, Ashdown.

Referee: G Cain (Merseyside).