Wolverhampton 0 Reading 2: Kitson makes it lucky 13 as ruthless Reading edge closer to Premiership

It is fast becoming a question of when, not whether, Reading reach the top flight for the first time in 135 years.

With high efficiency and much conviction, they registered a ninth successive victory that exposed as folly Glenn Hoddle's belief that Wolverhampton Wanderers could still catch them.

Twenty-seven points now separate these clubs, but of more relevance is the fact that Reading now lead at the top by nine. This was a sixth straight win on their travels, where they remain unbeaten in the Championship this season.

And amid the stats-fest, are the most telling facts of the lot: undefeated anywhere in 24 League matches and still 20 points ahead of third-place Watford.

"I don't think of the lead," said the Reading manager, Steve Coppell. "We can be as vulnerable as any team if we get some injuries.

"Earlier in the season, we had something like six games in 20 days and we picked up three fairly serious injuries. We were without Steve Sidwell here but it's not just about one player and we have a tight squad. Wolves battered us twice last season but we have more of a cutting edge this season than just Dave Kitson."

This triumph was fully merited against a Wolves team booed off at full-time.

The ice-breaker, shortly before the half-hour, was neatly headed in on the run by Kitson - his 13th goal of the season. Most of the credit, though, went to Glen Little, who cashed in on Joleon Lescott's mistake to brilliantly beat three defenders in a tight space and centre from the right.

Wolves were fortunate to be level as long as they were. In the second minute, Little sparked an incredible triple near miss when his short cross was nodded against the bar then the post by Kitson, with Brynjar Gunnarsson heading the ball on to the roof of the net from the second rebound.

With Reading every bit as mean as a record of three away goals conceded suggests, the contest effectively ended in the 65th minute.

Bobby Convey picked up a loose ball in midfield and set off on a run rounded off by a low left-foot shot in off the far post from 22 yards.

There could have been more. James Harper, Gunnarsson and Kevin Doyle were each denied by diving saves from Stefan Postma, who saw Gunnarsson lash another clear opening off target.

Wolves had a 21-game unbeaten run of their own earlier this year, but were distinctly second-best as their current eight-match undefeated sequence collapsed at the seams.

Apart from a shot drilled wide from 25 yards by Seol, they threatened rarely until the same player, with a header, and Colin Cameron, with a venomous 30-yarder, struck the top of the bar.

It might take more than the Ferencvaros and Hungary midfielder Denes Rosa - signed over Christmas for a nominal fee - to turn them into promotion material.

"We deserved nothing and I'm bitterly disappointed," said Hoddle. "It's a surprise to me because I really fancied us to win. The players have not performed, though. We had no imagination in our play which is unusual and it was unacceptable. We just weren't good enough."

Goals: 0-1 Kitson (29), 0-2 Convey (65).

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-3-3): Postma; Edwards, Gyepes (Craddock, 73), Lescott, Naylor; Anderton (Ndah, 70), Kennedy, Ricketts (Cameron, 58); Seol, Ganea, Miller. Substitutes not used: Oakes (GK), Huddlestone.

Reading (4-4-2): Hahnemann; Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey; Little (Oster, h-t), Harper, Gunnarsson, Convey (Hunt, 82); Kitson, Doyle. Substitutes not used: Stack (GK), Makin, Brown.

Referee: S Tanner.

Attendance: 27,980.

Man of the match: Ingimarsson.