Harper the hero for Royals

Kitson: Reading opener

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James Harper's last-minute goal ended Reading's three-game losing run with a 2-1 victory over Wigan as the Latics were left to rue the penalty that never was at the Madejski Stadium.

Steve Coppell's side claimed all three points when Dave Kitson collected a short throw, cut across the edge of the area and played a delightful ball through the Wigan defence which Harper slotted home coolly.

The Royals went in front after 29 minutes when Kevin Doyle created a yard of space for himself in the penalty area before firing in a low shot which Chris Kirkland really should have claimed.

But the Wigan goalkeeper allowed the ball to slip from his grasp and Kitson was on hand to fire home from close range.

Penalty controversy

Wigan were livid moments later when Jason Koumas burst into the area and went down under a challenge from Ivar Ingimarsson with referee Keith Stroud immediately pointing to the spot.

But after consulting with assistant Patrick Keane, Stroud changed his mind and gave a free-kick, which Koumas rattled against the bar.

And replays showed that the match officials were correct, with the challenge taking place right on the outside edge of the 18-yard line.

On-loan Charlton striker Marcus Bent levelled with his first goal for the Latics five minutes into the second period when he powered home an unstoppable header from Koumas' corner.

Doyle went on a solo run in the eighth minute, beating Andreas Granqvist, before a wasteful shot from an angle. But his flick-on of Ingimarsson's clearing header was just perfect to send Liam Rosenior racing clear in the 17th.

The former Fulham man, swapped for Seol Ki-Hyeon on deadline day and making his home debut, is not noted for his finishing however and failed to beat Chris Kirkland with the resulting shot.

Reading were galvanised though and Granqvist needed his height to prevent Kitson from flicking on Nicky Shorey's corner delivery into the net and the home side's breakthrough duly arrived just before the half hour.

The penalty controversy followed and tempers remained frayed with Michael Brown booked for hacking down Kitson and Rosenior shown a yellow card in stoppage time for impeding Koumas, who saw Hahnemann save his 25-yard free-kick.

Equaliser

Wigan equalised five minutes into the second half through Bent, who had been quiet up to then.

The on-loan Charlton man, who had replaced the injured Emile Heskey against Fulham last week and was making his first start, had been disappointed to see Ingimarsson get in the way of Paul Scharner's attempt to set him up in front of goal.

But he made no mistake from the corner that followed by getting in between Kitson and Michael Duberry to power a header from Koumas' delivery past Hahnemann from six yards.

It was not long before Bent had another go as Wigan took a grip on the game but this time Hahnemann was able to parry and Ingimarsson hoofed away the loose ball.

Reading swapped Rosenior for Bobby Convey just after the hour mark and Stephen Hunt glanced a header from Doyle's cross just wide of the far post.

Convey was looking the man most likely to fashion a breakthrough for the home side and one pacy, low delivery from the right only just eluded Doyle and then Kitson in the box.

Aghahowa

Wigan almost snatched victory with five minutes remaining however when substitute Julius Aghahowa, who had replaced the anonymous Antoine Sibierski, put Bent away only for Duberry to time his tackle in the box to perfection.

Hahnemann was fortunate when Wigan caught Reading on the counter-attack but Aghahowa opted to try to carry on instead of going down and was intercepted by Ingimarsson.

That allowed Reading to strike their decisive blow when Kitson carried the ball forward on the edge of the box before slotting a pass through to Harper, who beat Kirkland at his near post to seal victory.