By Matthew Grant
December 6 2003

A double from Nicky Forster sealed Reading back to back wins over there promotion rivals. Wigan dominated much of the game but were unable to find there way to go The game saw Wigan's first defeat of the season at the JJB Stadium. Royals continued with the same team for three games running with Dean Morgan unable to claim a place on the bench after travelling with the Reading team.

Reading started very brightly and were nearly ahead after a couple of minutes. A ball was threaded through to Nicky Forster whose shot squeezed past John Filan but the shot clipped the post and went wide. Throughout the game Forster's pace caused the Wigan back line a number of problems. The game turned scrappy in patches with both teams deciding to have a came of ping pong up and down the pitch. Wigan's danger men were Nathan Ellington whose trickery was making life heard for Ingimarsson and John Mackie and Gary Teale down the right side of midfield. Thought 10 minutes before half time Reading made a change with Bas Savage being replaced by Scott Murray. Savage had already been booked when he lunged in again and nearly got sent off. Coppell obviously felt that the risk was too big and he made a quick decision to bring the winger off.

Half Time: Wigan 0:0 Reading

Second half and Wigan began in a similar fashion by trying to get the ball to Ellington who was clearly there best chance of a goal. Though as it looked more and more likely the Northerners would break the deadlock Reading hit then on the break with Nicky Forster finishing from a acute angle to send the 400 odd away fans into applause.

It was a case of holding on and hopefully getting another but they were being pushed and pushed back by a dominant Wigan who were without there star striker Geoff Horsfield who was out with injury. They clearly missed him as they were running out of ideas. Clearly shown by the fact that one of there best chances in the half falling to centre half, Jason De Vos whose header was comfortably saved. As time was running out Reading finished off the game, another counter attack saw the ball fall to Forster again who cut inside and put the ball past Filan and into the bottom corner of the net.

It was a tremendous result for the Royals which saw them do the double over the Latics.

Full Time: Wigan 0:2 Reading

Man Of The Match: Nicky Forster for the two goals. He had chances to get a hat trick with chances earlier in the game.

A bit hash with the cards but again very poor assistants.

Attendance: 7,200. A very empty JJB stadium making for a eerie atmosphere at times.