A superb first half performance was enough for Nottingham Forest to secure a win which means they are now 18 games undefeated in the Championship.

Forest's domination of the first half was almost total, with Reading not having a single shot on target. Forest looked in control already when they took the lead after 11 minutes and doubled it just before half time.

The second half was much more of a contest with Lee Camp denying Reading twice early in the half. And the Forest keeper was the hero again when he saved a Reading penalty after Nicky Shorey was sent off.

Reading got what was in the end a deserved goal back late in stoppage time but it was too little too late to stop Forest taking all three points..

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Forest broke forward in the opening minute with a flick through by Chris Cohen towards Robert Earnshaw who broke forward, but a bit too quickly and the offside flag went up.

A great move involving four or five Forest players finished with a good cross by Radoslaw Majewski wide right to Chris Gunter, who sent a perfect cross into the six-yard box, but Reading were able to clear the ball.

There were calls for a hand ball from the Forest crowd and bench when Ivar Ingimarsson's raised arm helped to clear the danger in front of Adam Federici's goal.

Forest took the lead in the 11^th minute after a flick by on by Earnshaw to Chris Cohen who ran from the half way line, going clear on goal. Rather than try a shot himself he looked up and saw Paul Anderson free and sent in a perfect cross for Anderson to lob into the net from 12 yards out.

When Reading put Forest under pressure, the home side defended well before making a good break down the left, until Majewski was brought down by Jem Karacan just outside the left corner of the penalty area.

Majewski's well taken free kick in was heading for Dexter inside the box, but Ingimarsson got up and headed the ball out for a corner.

Forest had a chance to make it two when Anderson made a superb run down the left, chested the ball down, beat his man and sent in a superb cross to Blackstock whose header was only just wide of the target.

And they continued to threaten with a good cross from Cohen and a shot from close range by Earnshaw whose volley went straight at Federici, but it was still needed a good save to stop the ball.

Forest scored their second just before the break after Majewski took the ball forward before feeding it to Earnshaw as he ran into the box and slotted the ball past Federici into the back of the net.

And it was almost three in stoppage time when Cohen fed the ball through to Blackstock who beat the keeper but then dragged the ball just inches wide.

Forest took a few minutes to settle into their stride at the start of the second half, letting Reading push forward, although they were unable to make anything of it.

Reading also looked more composed and closed Forest down much better than they had in the first half.

Reading almost took the lead when the ball was fed to Gunnar Thorvaldsson who sent the ball across the face of goal, forcing an excellent save off the line from Lee Camp.

And just a minute later an unmarked Thorvaldsson was denied again by Camp who dived to his right to make another superb save.

Federici had an easy save to make when Blackstock fed the ball to Majewski but his effort from the edge of the D went straight to the Reading keeper.

Reading were awarded a penalty and Nicky Shorey was sent off, playing for the first time against his former side, when he brought down substitute Jimmy Kebe as he ran into the box.

But Reading were again denied by Camp when the other substitute, Brian Howard, took the penalty, sending Camp diving to his left to parry the ball away with both hands.

Forest, having strengthened their defence with James Perch already on for Earnshaw, did so again with ten minutes remaining when Luke Chambers came on for Majewski.

And Nathan Tyson came on soon after, replacing Blackstock up front with seven minutes left.

A mistake by Andy Griffin, under pressure from Anderson, almost gifted Forest a chance when the ball fell for Tyson whose shot from 25 yards went wide.

Reading put Forest under more pressure late in the half when they won a free kick on the right after Anderson fouled Kebe. Howard took the shot well but it was cleared by Wes Morgan and the ball went out for a corner.

Reading got a consolation goal deep into stoppage time from a cross in by Howard from edge of penalty area, Kebe got a touch on the ball and sent it past Camp from six yards out.

Nottingham Forest: Camp, Gunter, Morgan, Wilson, Shorey, Cohen, Anderson, McKenna(C), Majewski (Chambers 80min), Blackstock (Tyson 83min), Earnshaw (Perch 70min)
Subs not used: Smith, McGugan, McGoldrick, Adebola
Goalscorers: Anderson 11min, Earnshaw 41mins
Bookings: Shorey Red card 68min, Anderson 87min

Reading: Federici, Cisse (Howard 45min), Mills, Tabb (Long 77min), McAnuff, Ingimarsson(C), Church (Kebe 65min), Karacan, Bertrand, Thorvaldsson, Griffin
Subs not used: Gunnarsson, Hamer, Rasiak, Pearce
Goalscorer: Kebe
Booking: Mills 90min

Referee: D Deadman

Attendance: 27,635 Away 707