Reading got their League One play-off hopes back on track with an impressive home victory against promotion chasing Wrexham.
The Royals had suffered back-to-back draws against relegation-threatened sides, but managed to maintain their strong home form by defeating the side hunting automatic promotion.
With Harvey Knibbs and Lewis Wing on the scoresheet, the Royals are now just two points off the top six.
Michael Stickland retained his place at the back alongside Tyler Bindon in the absence of Amadou Mbengue, while striker Jayden Wareham returned to the starting eleven as Noel Hunt’s team looked to return to winning ways.
Reading looked comfortable in possession throughout the first-half without ever really threatening the Wrexham goal, likewise the Royals were not put under much pressure from the visitors.
After a quiet first-half, it was the Royals who flew out the blocks in the second-half with two goals in the opening 10 minutes.
Wareham was rewarded for his tenacity up top as he knocked the ball past Eoghan O’Connell who tripped the forward right on the line which led to the referee awarding Reading a penalty.
Harvey Knibbs stepped up and sent goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo the wrong way to net his 12th League One goal of the season.
Just four minutes later, the Royals had doubled their money when a fantastic exchange of passes just outside the box led to Knibbs setting up Wing who arrowed a shot in at the near post.
Former Royal Sam Smith, who joined Wrexham for around £2million in January, was unable to have an impact on the game.
Reading’s task for the final 15 minutes got trickier when young defender Strickland received a second yellow for time wasting and was sent off.
Hunt bolstered the defence by bringing the experienced Harlee Dean on to try and help his side see out the game.
Reading kept Wrexham at bay as they claimed three points.
Reading: Periera, Abrefa, Stickland, Bindon, Garcia, Savage, Wing, Knibbs, Campbell, Ehibhatiomhan, Wareham
Subs: Button, Akande, Camara, Carroll, Dean, Yiadom, Rushesha
Wrexham: Okwonko, Cleworth, O’Connell, O’Connor, Barnett, Rathbone, James, McClean, Revan, Rodriguez, Smith
Subs: Evans, Faal, Fletcher, Howard, Lee, Longman, Scarr
Goals: Knibbs 51’ (pen), Wing 55’
