Fernando Forestieri netted twice as Sheffield Wednesday eased to a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Reading at Hillsborough.
Forestieri scored either side of George Boyd's effort to see off a Reading side who were reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute following a red card for Tyler Blackett.
The Royals are still in danger at the bottom, sitting five points above the relegation zone with two matches remaining.
The first major opportunity of the match came in the 23rd minute. Boyd aimed a superb cross towards Jordan Rhodes from the left. However, seven yards out in acres of space, he glanced his header wide of the post.
Wednesday were nearly in again only a few minutes later. A looping ball was sent over the top for Rhodes, goalkeeper Vito Mannone sprinted off his line and got there first but spilled the pass and a defender was on hand to clear.
On the half-hour mark, Reading missed their only chance of merit. A long ball was sent into the box, goalkeeper Cameron Dawson came but spilled it at the feet of Jon Dadi Bodvarsson. However, the striker aimed his shot straight at Frederico Venancio, well positioned on the line.
In the 35th minute, Wednesday took the lead. Daniel Pudil on the left side pulled the ball back to Forestieri, who flicked it up and on the half volley drilled a powerful shot into the net from 12 yards via a deflection.
In the 54th minute, Wednesday made it 2-0. Adam Reach shimmied past two defenders and pulled the ball across goal for Boyd who could not miss from three yards for his third goal of the season.
Reading then missed two great chances in quick succession. Mo Barrow wriggled his way past three defenders and took aim from a tight angle, but his effort went across the face of goal.
The shot fell to Sone Aluko on the right side and as if trying to outdo Barrow, he dribbled past three Wednesday players before seeing his effort blocked.
In the 71st minute Forestieri made it 3-0. The striker wriggled his way across the edge of the box, momentarily lost the ball, beat Blackett with a slide tackle then looked up and aimed a powerful shot, beating Mannone despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball.
Moments later, any remaining hope for Reading was extinguished after Blackett was sent-off following an off-the-ball incident, reducing the Royals to 10 men.
The hosts continued to play on the front foot, but could not add to the scoring.
English League Championship Standings
POS | Team | GP | GD | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | West Bromwich Albion | 19 | +17 | 42 |
2 | Leeds United | 19 | +18 | 40 |
3 | Fulham | 19 | +12 | 35 |
4 | Nottingham Forest | 19 | +10 | 33 |
5 | Bristol City | 19 | +4 | 32 |
6 | Preston North End | 19 | +8 | 31 |
7 | Brentford | 19 | +15 | 30 |
8 | Swansea City | 19 | +4 | 30 |
9 | Sheffield Wednesday | 19 | +8 | 29 |
10 | Cardiff City | 19 | +2 | 28 |
11 | Blackburn Rovers | 19 | -1 | 27 |
12 | Millwall | 20 | -2 | 27 |
13 | Hull City | 19 | +4 | 26 |
14 | Derby County | 19 | -5 | 25 |
15 | Birmingham City | 19 | -5 | 25 |
16 | Queens Park Rangers | 19 | -9 | 25 |
17 | Charlton Athletic | 19 | 0 | 23 |
18 | Reading | 18 | -1 | 21 |
19 | Huddersfield Town | 19 | -9 | 18 |
20 | Middlesbrough | 19 | -11 | 17 |
21 | Luton Town | 19 | -15 | 17 |
22 | Wigan Athletic | 19 | -14 | 16 |
23 | Stoke City | 19 | -13 | 14 |
24 | Barnsley | 19 | -17 | 12 |
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