Results see Royals secure league safety

Middlesbrough 2 Reading 1

READING’S Championship safety was confirmed despite defeat away at Middlesbrough as relegation rivals Rotherham United were beaten 2-1 and subsequently relegated to League One.

Danny Loader put the Royals in front with a stunning effort to score his first senior goal for the club but the Royals were condemned to defeat as Lewis Wing equalised before Britt Assombalonga scored the winner from the penalty spot.

Having all but confirmed their safety with a draw on Easter Monday, Jose Gomes’ side can start planning for life in the Championship again next season with their safety being secured as Rotherham fell victim to the drop after a 2-1 defeat away at West Bromwich Albion.

Reading made a perfect start to the match as Danny Loader scored his first senior goal for the club and made it one to remember as he received the ball from a throw in and cut onto his right foot before unleashing an unstoppable curling strike into the top corner from 20 yards out.

Emi Martinez came to Reading’s rescue to prevent the hosts from coming up with a quick reply as he made a point blank save to deny George Saville from equalising at the back post.

Sam Baldock missed a couple of chances in quick succession before the Royals had to ride their luck as Boro hit the post for the second time in the match as Britt Assombalonga watched his powerful strike bounce off the woodwork.

But the hosts were rewarded having come close to an equaliser on a few occasions as Lewis Wing latched onto Andy Yiadom’s attempted headed clearance and converted the ball into the bottom corner to level the scores.

With the hosts starting to find their rhythm, Martinez came up with another fantastic stop to prevent Middlesbrough from taking the lead as the Argentine goalkeeper got fingertips to push away Wing’s goal bound effort.

Reading’s luck ran out as Yiadom fouled Saville in the penalty area and Assombalonga made no mistake from 12 yards out as he fired the ball past Martinez to put Boro in front.

Reading had chances in the second half as they pushed hard for an equaliser as Garath McCleary and Baldock both squandered good chances on the break for the visitors. Andy Rinomhota also came close to grabbing an equaliser as Chris Gunter did well to find him with a lobbed pass but the midfielder’s shot was blocked.

Middlesbrough held on for victory as they earned a vital win to keep them in the hunt for the play-off places as Reading’s relegation battle was finally ended.

The Royals safety was confirmed as they sit six points above the drop zone with just one league game left.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Randolph, Shotton, Flint, Saville, Wing, Besic (Clayton 68), Mikel (c), Howson, McNair, Assombalonga (Hugill 86), Fletcher (Tavernier 80).

Unused subs: Konstantopoulos, Downing, Wood, Gestede.

Goals: Wing (31), Assombalonga (39 pen).

Yellow: Howson.

READING: Martínez, Yiadom, Gunter (Olise 74), Miazga, Moore (c),

Baker, Rinomhota, Ejaria, McCleary (McCleary 74), Loader, Baldock (Harriott 62).

Unused subs: Walker, Ezatolahi, Kelly, McIntyre.

Goal: Loader (11). Yellow: Harriott. Attendance: 22,003. Referee: Mr J Brooks