Reading keep promotion dream alive

Reading kept their hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League alive and pushed Norwich to the brink of relegation with a 2-0 win here on Monday.

Two second-half headers from Shane Long ensured that Steve Coppell’s side will go into Sunday’s final round of matches with a chance of snatching second place in the Championship from Birmingham, the visitors to the Madejski stadium on the final day of the season.

For that to happen, Reading must beat Birmingham and hope that Sheffield United fail to win at Crystal Palace.

For Norwich, the defeat left them three points adrift of fourth-from-bottom Barnsley with a trip to already relegated Charlton to come on Sunday.

Barnsley will survive if they can take a point from their home fixture against Bristol City and condemn Norwich to relegation to the third tier of English football for the first time in 49 years.

The defeat for Norwich ensured Plymouth and Nottingham Forest are both guaranteed another season in the Championship.