Match ends, Reading 0, Brentford 2.
ReadingReading0BrentfordBrentford2
Brentford's play-off push will go to the final day of the Championship season after victory against Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Alan Judge opened the scoring when he volleyed home Andre Gray's cross.
The Bees doubled the lead when defender James Tarkowski nodded in a free-kick after the interval.
Brentford need to defeat Wigan at Griffin Park next Saturday and hope results involving Ipswich or Derby go in their favour.
Mark Warburton's side are seventh in the table on 75 points, two behind sixth-placed Derby and three behind fifth-placed Ipswich.
Ipswich also have a superior goal difference of three over Brentford.
While Brentford play Wigan, Derby entertain Reading and Ipswich visit ninth-placed Blackburn.
Warburton's side got off to a flying start against Reading, going in front in the seventh minute after good work by Gray.
Brentford's 16-goal top scorer clipped over a fine cross to the near post for Judge to volley past goalkeeper Adam Federici.
Reading, beaten FA Cup semi-finalists last weekend, went close when Garath McCleary blazed over after Hal Robson-Kanu's miscued effort from a Chris Gunter cross.
But Brentford extended their lead in the 65th minute when Tarkowski rose unchallenged to head Judge's nicely flighted free-kick past Federici.
Reading are 19th in the table, safe from relegation.
Reading manager Steve Clarke:
"We give everybody a game but, unfortunately, the opposition always seem to get more goals than us. That's the reality of the situation.
"The team is in a difficult moment, it seems to be stuck in a bit of a rut. And we're running out of time this season to find a solution."
Brentford manager Mark Warburton:
"We weren't at our best today but got an early goal that calmed the nerves and were much better in the second half. The game was too open at times but we got the three points.
"It's tight for those last play-off places so all we can do is focus on the Wigan game."
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Federici
- 2Gunter
- 5Pearce
- 15Hector
- 11ObitaBooked at 86mins
- 14ChalobahSubstituted forCoxat 66'minutes
- 6NorwoodBooked at 35mins
- 23Williams
- 12McClearyBooked at 64minsSubstituted forStaceyat 66'minutes
- 19Mackie
- 9Robson-KanuSubstituted forBlackmanat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Cox
- 16Akpan
- 21Karacan
- 22Blackman
- 31Andersen
- 35Cooper
- 37Stacey
Brentford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 27ButtonBooked at 31mins
- 10Odubajo
- 6Dean
- 26Tarkowski
- 3Bidwell
- 20Diagouraga
- 8Douglas
- 23JotaSubstituted forToralat 68'minutes
- 21PritchardSubstituted forSmithat 84'minutes
- 18Judge
- 19GraySubstituted forDallasat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Craig
- 12McCormack
- 15Dallas
- 16Bonham
- 17Toral
- 24Smith
- 32O'Connell
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 20,048
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamBrentford
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away7
- Corners
- Home5
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 0, Brentford 2.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Chris Gunter.
Post update
Attempt saved. Alan Judge (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stuart Dallas.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jon-Miquel Toral (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tommy Smith.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alan Judge (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alan Judge (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Jordan Obita (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Tommy Smith (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Obita (Reading).
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Nick Blackman replaces Hal Robson-Kanu.
Post update
Offside, Reading. Jordan Obita tries a through ball, but Hal Robson-Kanu is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Stuart Dallas (Brentford).
Post update
Chris Gunter (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Tommy Smith replaces Alex Pritchard.
Post update
Offside, Brentford. Alex Pritchard tries a through ball, but Alan Judge is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jack Stacey (Reading) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Daniel Williams.
Post update
Attempt saved. Simon Cox (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Alex Pritchard (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jack Stacey (Reading).
