READING moved back into the Championship play-off places with a 2-0 victory over visiting Middlesbrough at the Madejski Stadium last night.

Both goals came in the opening quarter of an hour.

Adam Le Fondre bundled home his 14th goal of the season with just nine minutes on the clock, following good work by Jordan Obita and Garath McCleary, while George Friend headed Obita’s cross into his own net four minutes later.

Midfielders Emmanuel Ledesma and Albert Adomah both went close to pulling a goal back for Middlesbrough, but the Royals got back on top in the second half.

Only a good save from busy goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos denied Le Fondre, who later hit the crossbar, while Pavel Pogrebnyak also went close to extending the lead.

The win leaves Reading in the final play-off position, but a cluster of teams are hot on their heels going into the final two games of the season.

The Royals will extend their season if they can win their remaining games, beginning with a trip to struggling Doncaster on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Reading manager Nigel Adkins said: "Our destiny is in our own hands. We are still in the race and everyone knows when you get to the play-offs it's anyone's game.

"We were excellent. We had passion, we had hunger, we had walking wounded out there again and all credit to them.

"We started well, got two great goals and played some good football. You saw the togetherness of the team.

"Middlesbrough are a good side so it's an excellent result and it puts us in a play-off position with two tough games to come."