JOHN SWIFT produced a scintillating display to lead Reading to a much-needed victory over Nottingham Forest.
Pressure has been growing on boss Jaap Stam as the Royals came into the game on the back of one win in nine, but they produced a fine performance to see off Forest thanks to a Swift brace and Jordan Smith own goal.
Vito Mannone was called into numerous brilliant saves and Ben Osborn pulled one back late on for the visitors, but it was an evening to savour for Stam and Reading.
Jaap Stam made three changes from the side which lost to Middlesbrough at the weekend.
Tiago Ilori missed out after his clash of heads on Saturday while Liam Kelly and Roy Beerens also dropped out. In came Leandro Bacuna, Dave Edwards and Mo Barrow with Sam Smith keeping his spot up front.
Royals made a bright start against Boro before falling behind and they looked just as lively again this time round.
Swift was pulling the strings from the off and had a shot blocked in just the third minute while Chris Gunter was denied by Jordan Smith in the Forest goal.
And Reading got their reward for a bright start in the 13th minute. Mo Barrow played the ball out to Bacuna on the left and the full-back brilliantly drove forwards from the halfway line, bursting past two men before cutting it back to Swift in the area to guide into the bottom corner.
Seemingly determined to net against his former club, Gunter tried his luck again, cutting in from the left but he was thwarted by Smith.
Royals soon had the ball in the net again when the lively Barrow rolled the ball across the face of goal towards Sam Smith in the centre, but defender Joe Worrall inadvertently turned into his own net.
However, the offside flag was raised against Barrow before he put in the low cross.
Forest were struggling to test Vito Mannone, but did grow into the game as the with David Vaughan firing over the crossbar while Kieran Dowell had a penalty appeal waved away.
And Reading should have been 2-0 to the good by half-time as Bacuna’s brilliant cross was met by an unmarked Smith at the back post, but the young forward somehow got his header all wrong and guided the ball off target.
Bacuna tried his luck himself moments later while just before the break a dangerous cross from Eric Lichaj was turned wide by Barrie McKay as Royals preserved their advantage.
Stam made a switch at the break, introducing Pelle Clement in place of Joey van den Berg
in midfield.
But it was Forest who had the first chance of the second period when Ben Osborn broke beyond the defence, but his effort was well stopped by an advancing Mannone.
Both sides made attacking changes to try and breathe some life into the second half with Royals continuing to ease Yann Kermorgant back into action as he replaced Smith on the hour mark. The visitors swapped Billie McKay with winger Mustapha Carayol.
Reading were dropping in too deep for Stam’s liking at times, but they proved lethal on the counter attack.
Forest were given a warning when Clement broke and fed Barrow, but the winger’s shot was blocked.
And four minutes later it was 2-0 after some more brilliance by Swift. The playmaker spread the play out to Barrow with the outside of his foot, allowing the Gambian to use his pace.
The winger superbly clipped the ball to the back post where Swift had burst forward and continued his run and he slid in to double the advantage.
But back came Forest, twice going close through a Dowell half volley and Tyler Walker header but Mannone was equal to both with two wonderful reflex saves.
And the game was as good as won on 78 minutes. Aluko, who came into the game with a game since April, twisted and turned before unleashing a left-footed shot which goalkeeper Jordan Smith bundled into his own net.
Forest were still creating chances and will leave wondering how they failed to find the net sooner with Walker’s goalbound header again stopped by an inspired Mannone.
They did grab a late consolation with five minutes to play when Osborn rifled a low effort into the bottom corner, but it was too little, too late.
READING: Mannone; Bacuna, McShane (c), Moore, Gunter; van den Berg (Clement 45), Edwards, Swift; Aluko, Barrow, S. Smith (Kermorgant 60).
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Blackett, Richards, Beerens, Popa.
Goals: Swift x2 (13,70), J. Smith (OG) (78)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: J. Smith; Darikwa, Worrall, Mancienne (c), Lichaj; Bridcutt, Vaughan (Bouchalakis 74); McKay (Carayol 63), Dowell, Osborn; Cummings (Walker 68).
Subs not used: Henderson, Mills, Brereton, Clough.
Goal: Osborn (86)
Yellow card: Lichaj (9)
Referee: Paul Tierney
Attendance: 14,868 (inc. 1,282 away)
