CALLUM Wilson’s early goal helped maintain Cherries’ challenge for promotion and also exorcised some Madejski Stadium ghosts for boss Eddie Howe and assistant Jason Tindall.

Wilson pounced on the loose ball to settle a game of few chances in the visitors’ favour after just four minutes as table-topping Cherries guaranteed at least a play-off place.

 

But with rivals Norwich and Middlesbrough also victorious, the promotion picture remained unaltered as a dramatic climax to the campaign continued.

A nerve-racking victory helped Howe and Tindall erase the memory of two visits to the Berkshire venue during their respective playing careers with Cherries.

Both had featured when Sean O’Driscoll’s team agonisingly missed out on a place in the Division One play-offs following an epic 3-3 draw on the final day of the 2000-2001 season.

And they were both involved in a dramatic 2-2 draw the following season when Wade Elliott’s last-minute penalty miss had proved costly, with Cherries ultimately suffering relegation.

The bad memories were wiped away with interest as Cherries registered a record-breaking 12th away win in a season and set a new Football League goalscoring record. It was also Cherries’ fourth successive win against the Royals since Howe and Tindall returned to Dean Court.

Matt Ritchie was deemed fit enough to keep his place after sustaining a shin injury as Howe named an unchanged team following the 2-0 win at Brighton. Ryan Fraser, who had missed Friday’s trip to the Amex due to illness, was drafted on to the bench and replaced Junior Stanislas.

While much of the pre-match debate had centred around how many changes Reading would make ahead of their FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal on Saturday, Royals boss Steve Clarke sprang something of a surprise.

Striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, who is likely to face the Gunners at Wembley, was rested, although the Russian was the only absentee from the Reading starting line-up which had battled out a 0-0 draw against Blackburn at the weekend.

Cherries made a dream start when they opened the scoring after just four minutes with Wilson registering his 22nd goal of the season to write a new chapter in the Football League record books.

The striker was on hand to convert the loose ball from close range after Andrew Surman’s shot from the edge of the box had beaten Royals goalkeeper Adam Federici and come back off the base of the post.

Wilson’s effort brought up Cherries’ 47th away league goal of the season – a new record for the second flight, passing the previous best set by Sheffield Wednesday in 1952 and matched by Chelsea in 1989.

Cherries were then indebted to goalkeeper Artur Boruc for preserving their lead, the Polish stopper pulling off a stunning one-handed save to keep out Jamie Mackie’s effort from point-blank range after 18 minutes.

Boruc instinctively threw out his right hand to claw away Mackie’s flicked attempt after the striker had ghosted in between the Cherries defence and fastened on to a probing cross from Hal Robson-Kanu.

Surman was in the right place at the right time to block Michael Hector’s header after the defender had met Jordan Obita’s corner at the far post before Obita fired high over the crossbar after being teed up by Nathaniel Chalobah.

Although Reading capitalised on some sloppy Cherries defending midway through the first half, Robson-Kanu failed to test Boruc and wastefully blazed his shot over the crossbar having taken aim from just inside the 18-yard box.

Hector’s timely interception prevented Wilson from getting a shot away following an incisive pass from Surman before Kermorgant’s header from Marc Pugh’s delicate cross bounced narrowly past the upright as the first half drew to a close.

Royals defender Hector and Cherries striker Wilson were both booked following a minor skirmish early in the second half with the hosts making the first change after 58 minutes when Danny Williams replaced Jem Karacan.

The first shooting chance of the second period fell to Ritchie after 62 minutes but, after seizing on the loose ball after Wilson had stumbled, his angled effort from 18 yards clipped the top of the crossbar.

Steve Cook saw his rasping volley from the edge of the box go straight down Federici’s throat after a Ritchie corner had only been half cleared by the Royals.

Hector, booked earlier following a flare-up with Wilson, escaped further punishment after catching the Cherries striker with a high boot. The incident saw referee Keith Stroud consult both assistants before he showed a yellow card to Royals defender Alex Pearce for apparently speaking out of turn.

Mackie seized on a slip by Tommy Elphick to create an opening for Robson-Kanu, only for the striker to slice his shot horribly wide under pressure from Cook after 81 minutes.

Reading substitute Yakubu totally missed his kick after being fed by Gareth McCleary while Cherries were forced to defend resolutely during the closing stages as the hosts went in search of an equaliser.

Wilson latched on to a through ball from Ritchie but took a tumble as he prepared to pull the trigger before Cherries held on and survived a nervy ending.

Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Pugh (Smith, 67), Surman, Arter, Ritchie, Kermorgant (Pitman, 73), Wilson (Jones, 88).

Unused subs: Ward, Fraser, Gosling, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Wilson, Francis, Boruc, Smith.

Royals: Federici, Gunter, A Pearce, Hector, Obita, Mackie, Chalobah (Appiah, 66), Karacan (Williams, 58), Ake, McCleary, Robson-Kanu (Yakubu, 81).

Unused subs: Kelly, Norwood, Stacey, Andersen (g/k).

Booked: Hector, Pearce.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Attendance: 18,917.