Royals too strong for Watford

Doyle: On target

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Kevin Doyle scored his 17th goal of the season as Reading defeated Watford to cut the gap on leaders Wolves to four points.

It was an unhappy meeting against his former employers for Hornets boss Brendan Rodgers, who spent nine years on the coaching staff of the Royals.

Watford matched Reading before the break but lacked a cutting edge in the final third and were made to pay when Chris Armstrong volleyed home Stephen Hunt's pass after the visiting defence missed several chances to clear.

Two goals in as many minutes after the break secured an 11th home victory in 14 outings for Steve Coppell's side at a chilly Madejski Stadium.

Noel Hunt fired home Reading's second after a superb cross from his brother Stephen had been nodded back across the area, before Doyle was gifted his goal when Scott Loach failed to deal with Liam Rosenior's ball in from the right.

Substitute Leroy Lita stepped off the bench to complete the rout with his first of the season for the Royals after returning from a productive loan spell with Norwich.

Scramble

The sides' previous meeting this season was blighted by the award of the now infamous 'phantom goal' which gave the Royals a 2-2 draw in September.

Unsurprisingly, referee that day Stuart Attwell was not requested to appear this time as Andy D'Urso took charge but after Armstrong struck there was never any question of controversy playing a part this time round.

Reading went ahead when a chaotic scramble in the area was tidily finished by Armstrong in the 38th minute.

Twice Watford were offered chances to clear a bouncing ball in the area but after they declined Stephen Hunt smartly brought the ball under control and teed up the overlapping Armstrong who cleverly volleyed between Loach and the near post.

Jimmy Kebe came within inches of converting a fabulous Stephen Hunt cross seconds into the second half before Kalifa Cisse rattled a shot wide after good link-up play from Doyle.

Rodgers then brought on Polish forward Grzegorz Rasiak in a bid to carry more attacking threat to the Royals but it instantly backfired as Noel Hunt scored Reading's second in the 67th minute.

Luxury

Armstrong fed Stephen Hunt down the left with a perfectly weighted pass. The Republic of Ireland international swept in a deep cross to the back post where Kebe outjumped Jon Harley to head back across goal.

Noel Hunt was given far too much time and span to lash past Loach from six yards for his 12th goal of the season.

Watford were guilty of terrible defending for the goal but outdid themselves just a minute later when Doyle made it 3-0.

Kebe played in Rosenior down the right and his cross was criminally not cut out by Jack Cork in front of Loach to allow Doyle to flick in his 17th - and easiest - of the campaign from three yards.

Coppell had the luxury of bringing off his two goalscorers to give Lita a rare appearance at the Madejski as his side moved to within four points of the summit.

Lita has just returned from a loan spell at Norwich and appears certain to leave the club before his contract expires in the summer but showed his class with two minutes remaining when James Harper played him through on goal and he clipped past Loach.