Jon Stead's stunning overhead kick just after half-time saw the Blues to a 1-0 win at Reading, Town's eighth away victory of the season. Jim Magilton's men weathered an early storm with Dave Kitson hitting the bar but overall were good for the three points.

Magilton made two changes to the side which drew 0-0 at Wolves on Tuesday with returning after his one-match ban in place of Iván Campo at centre-half. Stead joined Kevin Lisbie up front as the Blues moved to 4-4-2. New loan signing Giovani Dos Santos began the game on the bench.

The home side came close to going in front in the fourth minute when returning loanee Dave Kitson got ahead of Gareth McAuley to head the ball onto the top of the Town crossbar.

Reading were well on top in the early stages, moving the ball around well and creating one or two chances. On one of those occasions, Richard Wright did well to close down Stephen Hunt and claim the ball at his feet after the Irishman had been found in space inside the area.

Shane Long shot straight at Richard Wright on 18, before Alan Quinn struck a 25-yard effort through to Marcus Hahnemann.

Soon after, Jon Stead's strike was too weak to test the American keeper, then James Harper failed to get enough power on a shot from just inside the area and Wright claimed.

As the half wore on, Town more and more got into the game with Reading rarely a threat after the first 15 minutes or so. On 36 Jon Stead laid a cross from the left back to Tommy Miller, but the midfielder sent the ball well over the bar.

The 0-0 scoreline at half-time was just about right with the Royals dominating the opening phase of the match and Town the later stages.

The game's only goal came two minutes into the second half, and what a goal it was. Kevin Lisbie fed David Norris on the right and the midfielder sent in a cross which Jon Stead powerfully overhead kicked past Hahnemann, the Reading keeper beaten just above his head for sheer pace. It was without doubt the Town goal of the season.

The Blues came close to adding to their lead two minutes later when David Norris broke away from the centre circle. The former Plymouth man took the ball on to the edge of the area with Lisbie in space to his right and Civelli in even more space to his left, but decided to go it alone and shot weakly to the keeper. A pass to either team-mate and Town would have been two in front.

On 50 Dave Kitson headed high and wide after reaching a Hunt freekick played in from the left only a few yards out. The former Cambridge striker really should have done better.

Jon Stead shot wide on 59, prior to Ben Thatcher clearing Michael Duberry's far post header from line after the latest in a succession of Reading freekicks in dangerous areas. Thatcher talked his way into referee Michael Oliver's book moments later after he had been harshly adjudged too have committed a foul on the edge of the area. The defender had a point with Town getting little from the Northumberland-based official.

Stead shot over in the 70th minute from the edge of the area after winning possession just inside the Reading half. A minute later, Town's goalscorer was replaced with new loan signing Giovani Dos Santos as the Blues looked to sit back and catch Reading on the break.

Richard Wright saved well from Glen Little moments later after a cross from the left found the loanee from Portsmouth on the edge of the area.

On 77 Dos Santos played a splendid ball through to Lisbie, who laid it wide to Civelli. The Argentinian whipped in a fine cross which the former Colchester man headed powerfully downwards and on target, keeper Hahnemann somehow getting a strong left hand down to push the ball away.

Owen Garvan replaced Alan Quinn for the final 10 minutes and picked up a booking for a foul on Kevin Doyle within two minutes of coming on.

Thatcher made a hugely important challenge on Kitson after he had found space on the right of the Town area as the match moved into the final five minutes, but overall the home side were creating little in the way of chances with Richard Wright and Gareth McAuley dealing with everything in the air.

Town might have added a second in the 89th minute when more impressive work from Civelli sent Lisbie away, but under pressure the striker scuffed his shot.

Pablo Couñago replaced Lisbie, again excellent away from home, for the final moments and, after a brief minor dust-up involving the Spaniard and Duberry, referee Oliver blew his whistle.

Yet another away win sees Town's outside chance of reaching the play-offs continue for at least a few more days.

Throughout the side there were impressive performances. Richard Wright, Gareth McAuley and Ben Thatcher stood out at the back, while Luciano Civelli seems to improve with every game on the left of midfield. The Argentinian sent in some dangerous crosses and was involved at both ends of the field, winning more than his fair share of balls in the air.

Lisbie again made clever runs and showed some superb touches and was unlucky not to score with his second half header.

Sub Dos Santos showed pace, skill and a willingness to run at players during his time on the field and made one superb pass to Lisbie in the run-up to the header which Hahnemann saved so well.

The play-offs are still a big ask, but if the Blues can continue their form away from home for the final weeks of the season and replicate it at home, there may just be a hope of scraping into sixth.

Town: R Wright, D Wright, Thatcher, McAuley, Balkestein, Quinn (Garvan 80), Miller, Norris, Civelli, Stead (Dos Santos 71), Lisbie (Couñago 90). Unused: Supple, Campo. Att: 20,592.

Photo: Action Images

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