READING FC returned to Championship action in winning ways after Amadou Mbengue netted the only goal of the game against Coventry City.
On the back of the World Cup break and four weeks with no matches, the Royals showed no signs of rustiness and moved into eighth position with their 10th win of the campaign.
Paul Ince’s men ensured the home fans went home happy having watched on in bitterly cold conditions as Reading shut out Coventry and won the game after 20-year-old Mbengue scored his first professional goal.
Having impressed since he arrived in Berkshire as an unknown prospect in the summer, Reading fans will be hoping that the French defender will extend his stay with his current contract only running until January.
With Ince still fully focusing on keeping the team in the league in a tightly compact table, Reading can start to keep one eye up the table where they are now just one point outside the top six after 22 matches.
They now also have the safety buffer of a nine point gap between them and the relegation places, while 22nd West Brom still have two games in hand which may reduce the deficit.
Reading are in Championship action on Friday night when they face an away trip to Birmingham City.
