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FULL-TIME Newcastle have won their third consecutive match after an impressive performance at St James' Park. They are now 12 points clear of the relegation zone with just five games of the season remaining. Reading are still in some trouble after their recent good form was ended in abrupt fashion.

89 - Duff impact Duff almost gets in on the act as he drives a shot towards the near post but Hahnemann gets across to save.

88 - Stunning effort Reading can only clear a corner as far as Barton on the edge of the area, and the midfielder slams a ferocious volley just wide of the post.

85 - Barton denied Barton embarks on a forceful run through the centre but his shot is tame and comfortably held by Hahnemann.

83 - Substitution Diatta comes on for his Newcastle debut in place of Faye.

79 - Substitution Smith comes on for Butt for the closing stages of the match.

77 - Almost four Martins chooses not to square the ball to an unmarked Barton and instead lashes a shot wide from the edge of the area.

75 - Substitution Viduka is warmly applauded as he is replaced by Duff. This is the Irishman's 300th league appearance.

74 - Double substitution Kitson and Cisse make way for Long and Fae. Still no changes from Keegan.

71 - Routine save Hunt fires straight at Harper from a narrow angle on the left.

70 - Good spell for Royals Newcastle have not been able to keep up their intensity since the third goal and Reading look likeliest to score the next goal.

67 - Sloppy defending Enrique concedes possession to Harper in a dangerous position but Butt and Beye combine to get the ball away to safety.

64 - Any chance for Reading? Reading are continuing to battle but surely there is no chance of them getting back into this one. Have they now been dragged back into the relegation scrap?

61 - Reading substitution Coppell reacts to the goal by bringing Convey on for the final half hour in place of Oster.

59 - GOAL Viduka has the simplest of finishes after being played in by Beye. The Newcastle right-back has been brilliant all game and he set up the goal after another driving run down the wing.

58 - Penalty appeal There are screams for a penalty - from the fans not the players - as Owen goes down under pressure from Ingimarsson.

56 - Hope for Reading Reading finally get into the Newcastle half and win a corner as Beye clears Oster's teasing cross.

54 - Terrific pace Martins chases a lost cause and panics Shorey into clearing for a corner. Newcastle do not make the most of the opportunity as Hahnemann catches safely this time.

50 - Relief for Hahnemann The Reading keeper drops Barton's cross but luckily for him the ball falls to Shorey, who boots clear.

49 - Bright start from Newcastle The Magpies have begun the second half brightly and Rosenior has to scramble the ball clear as Owen looks to link up with Viduka.

47 - Owen praise Stephen Harrison has been in touch to say that Owen is awesome and Keegan is the great one. Let's see if there is more entertainment ahead in the second half.

Back underway Newcastle get the second half started after what seemed like an awfully long half-time.

HALF-TIME The half-time whistle goes with Newcastle leading 2-0. Reading have not played badly but the quality of Owen and Martins has proved the difference so far.

43 - GOAL Owen scores for a fourth consecutive game as he latches onto a clever pass from Beye and finishes powerfully.

41 - Caution Bikey is booked for a foul on Viduka.

39 - Off target Hunt lines up a long free-kick but curls his effort harmlessly wide.

38 - Owen goes close Owen slams a shot over from close range after Viduka stepped over Barton's clever pass from the left. Great chance and you would have expected Owen to score.

34 - Harper to the rescue The Newcastle goalkeeper gets his fingertips to an Oster cross to knock the ball behind for a corner.

32 - More Newcastle support Craig Hurst believes Newcastle will now go on to win 4-0. I'm not so sure Craig, Reading have responded well since going behind.

30 - Magpies survive scare Reading enjoy another good period of pressure before Edgar gets the ball clear. Faye, meanwhile, has trotted back onto the pitch.

28 - Injury scare for Faye Faye hobbles over to the touchline to receive treatment after picking up a knock. Keegan will not want to lose another central defender.

25 - Ambitious Kitson appears to be shooting as he drives the ball in from an impossible angle outside the right-hand side of the area. Harper gathers comfortably and Kitson's team-mates look on in bewilderment.

23 - Hahnemann denies Owen Enrique's pinpoint cross is headed goalwards by Owen, but Hahnemann acrobatically tips the ball over the bar. As it turns out, Owen had just strayed into an offside position and the goal would not have stood.

22 - Just wide Cisse drags a shot narrowly wide from 20 yards.

21 - Keegan backing Middlesbrough fan Benjamin has admitted he would like Newcastle to be successful under Keegan. He looks on course for his third consecutive victory here. Can Reading bounce back?

19 - GOAL Martins puts Newcastle ahead slightly against the run of play. The Nigerian takes advantage of a slip from Rosenior and finishes coolly past Hahnemann.

18 - Great defence Beye does brilliantly to race back and tackle Doyle just as he is about to let fly ten yards out.

17 - Dangerous ball Doyle plays a ball across the face of goal but there is nobody coming in to attack it.

15 - No way through Martins, Viduka and Owen have not been able to link up much as yet and it is left to Beye to threaten down the right.

12 - Doyle causing problems Doyle wriggles his way into a good position in the box but delays his shot and is forced too wide. He eventually pulls the trigger but Harper makes a routine save.

10 - Royals on top The game has settled down a touch but it is Reading who are seeing more of the ball, with Newcastle's defence looking vulnerable.

8 - Too much confidence? Adam Dare believes Newcastle could be a bit too confident and feels Reading may be able to exploit one or two gaps at the back. Rob Ward has also warned that Reading are no mugs.

5 - End to end It has been a lively start to the game and both sides are looking dangerous in attack. Oster takes aim from outside the area but shoots well wide.

3 - Good response Newcastle get a corner and Reading struggle to clear. The signs are that we are in for an exciting match.

1 - Early chance Reading win a free-kick after a fine run down the left by Hunt, but Oster's cross is headed over by Harper.

Kick-off Reading get the game underway at St James' Park.

Bold prediction Andrew Grogan is backing Newcastle to win 5-2 and reclaim their title as 'entertainers'. What do you Reading fans make of that?

Team news David Edgar has been drafted in as a late replacement for Steven Taylor (stomach bug) and handed his first start under Keegan. Kalifa Cisse comes in for the suspended Marek Matejovsky for Reading. What do you make of those changes? Is Newcastle's defence still strong enough to resist The Royals?

Reading Hahnemann, Rosenior, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Shorey, Oster, Harper, Cisse, Hunt, Kitson, Doyle. Subs: Federici, Convey, Fae, Long, Duberry.

Newcastle Harper, Beye, Faye, Edgar, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Butt, Barton, Martins, Owen, Viduka. Subs: Forster, Duff, Diatta, Smith, Carroll.

Get in touch Let us know your views on the match by getting in touch at Lewis.Rutledge@bskyb.com. Would victory secure Newcastle's survival or could they still be dragged back into the relegation battle? Can Reading keep up their good form or is Newcastle's momentum now unstoppable? Who needs the points most?

Welcome to skysports.com's minute-by-minute commentary of Newcastle's Premier League clash with Reading. Both sides have climbed away from trouble in recent weeks, with The Magpies winning their last two games and Reading collecting ten points from five games. There is still plenty at stake though, as neither team will feel completely safe as yet.