Reading FC enjoyed their Saturday afternoon in the north-west, defeating Wigan 1-0.

Looking to bounce back after a disappointing showing in midweek, the Royals came up with the perfect response.

In what was a game which started slowly, a Tom Ince curled free-kick was enough to separate the sides.

Reading made the trip up from Berkshire after losing their 100 percent home record on Wednesday, falling to Sunderland 3-0.

Manager Ince made one change to the starting eleven, with Loum making way for Rahman.

Re-signed Andy Carroll made the bench, as did Amadou Mbengue.

Somewhat surprisingly, Hutchinson started in defensive midfield, with Yiadom slotting into the right centre-back position.

Wigan arguably started the brighter of the two sides and had a penalty shout waved off in the fifth minute.

Callum Lang was played in behind the Reading back-line and was brought down inside the box by Andy Yiadom, but the referee signalled for a goal kick.

Moments later, Yiadom had his pocket picked by Aasgaard, before McClean whipped in a teasing cross, which was dealt with by a combination of the Reading skipper and Joe Lumley.

The Royals grew into the game, with Hoilett putting in good work on the right, delivering two crosses in quick succession, albeit failing to find a teammate.

Both teams struggled to grasp a real stranglehold on the game, with possession changing hands regularly.

A Lumley goal kick found Lucas Joao, who was able to play in Hoilett ; the Canadian clipped a delicate cross into the Angolan, only to be headed clear.

Hutchinson was able to play the ball back into the box, but the keeper was able to gather.

Reading worked their best chance of the half on the 25th minute, with Jeff Hendrick handed a fine opportunity to put his side in front.

Hoilett was unsurprisingly involved in the move, finding Yiadom who had made an overlapping run. The Royals’ captain darted to the byline before finding Hendrick at the near post, only for the Irishman to blaze over.

The Latics could have responded immediately after Hutchinson lost out to Keane in the middle of the park. A pass out to Latics skipper Darikawa on the right saw the ball get delivered into the penalty box, but Magennis could only watch as his header back across goal trickled past the wrong side of the post.

With the clock ticking past the half-hour mark, Hendrick found Ince, who looked to have worked himself enough space to get a shot away. However, he was promptly swarmed by two Wigan players who were able to come away with the ball.

In the next phase of play, Darikwa found himself in an advanced position, breaking clear of Joao and Tyrese Fornah. The right-back’s strike from outside of the box sailed over the bar.

There was time for one more opening in the first half as Magennis used his strength to flick a header around the corner for Aasgaard whose fierce left-footed strike missed the mark.

At the start of the second half, a couple of decisions against the home team instantly had the majority of the crowd on edge.

Proceedings continued much in the same vein as the first half, with the only chance of note coming in the form of a Whatmough sighter from 30 yards.

Reading were presented with two decent chances on the hour mark. First, good interplay between Hendrick and Hoilett saw the ball work its way to Rahman on the edge of the box.

The Ghanian had time to line the shot up, but it was blocked.

Moments later, an Ince corner could only be cleared to Hoilett on the right, who found McIntyre in prime position to turn home, but the Scot was unable to convert from close range.

With the crowd already on edge, their mood was made worse when Ince won a free-kick just outside the box.

The away end would have been well-versed in the quality of their number ten’s set-piece deliveries, but even they were left stunned as his left-footed curled effort found the back of the net.

Pressure inevitably mounted on the Royals and the Latics were presented with the best chance of the match when a ball in from their left was glanced onto the post.

For a second, it seemed as if Lumley had spilled the ball into his own goal, with the home fans celebrating what they perceived to be an equaliser. However, the ball was eventually cleared.

Good work from McIntyre down the left saw him win possession in an advanced position. The centre-back’s cross found an on-rushing Ince at the near post, whose header into the ground bounced despairingly wide of the post.

With the game becoming increasingly stretched, the Latics went straight up to the other end, with Kean playing in Lang who found himself one-on-one with Lumley, but he was unable to compose himself and blazed over.

It was all hands on deck for the Royals who were forced to see off a flurry of balls into the box.

The away side did carve out chances on the break, the best of which fell to substitute Yakou Meite. With the Latics committed higher up the pitch, the Ivorian found himself one-on-one with Amos, but could only fire straight at him.

Despite increasing pressure, the Royals managed the game well, even after the referee added eight minutes of stoppage time.

Lang could have fired home towards the end, but was unable to bring a dangerous cross down and an on-rushing Max Power could only slice the loose ball wide.

One final chance fell to Wyke who seemed to be in the perfect position to head home a pin-point Power cross from the right, but he could only head over.

There was even enough time for Andy Carroll to make his second debut, as the forward came on for the final exchanges.

There was a collective sigh of relief from the 471 away fans as the referee blew the final whistle.

Paul Ince’s men travel down to Berkshire sitting in third position in the league.

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