Kevin Doyle eased Reading's fears of getting dragged into a relegation fight by heading the winner against Derby County in today's Premier League clash at the Madejski Stadium.
Royals boss Steve Coppell had warned on the eve of the match that he may have to bolster his squad in January, only for Doyle to grab his first of the season and offer a reminder of his match-winning capabilities.
Derby had their moments and created half-chances but could have lost by a bigger margin but for some poor finishing, and Billy Davies' men did not have a clear opportunity to score their first away goal of the season.
Reading conceded seven in their previous match, while Derby had shipped five and six earlier in the season, but there was little evidence to suggest another goal-feast.
It was not a case of the defences tightening significantly, it was a lack of composure in all areas of the pitch, illustrated by an attempted clearance from Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater just before the break that sliced for a corner.
Michael Duberry was the main culprit for Reading, his punts up the field going off at all angles. And when the hosts strung passes together their finishing let them down.
With less than three minutes gone, Dave Kitson latched onto a Doyle flick after an intelligent dummy, the ball cannoned towards Stephen Hunt and the Irishman lifted the ball over the crossbar with just Bywater to beat.
Hunt got even closer in the 21st minute, heading just wide after Doyle found a yard of room on the touchline and whipped in a cross from the right.
Doyle headed just off-target himself from a similar position after Liam Rosenior bundled his way through a Jay McEveley tackle, getting off the floor and putting his cross in.
Kenny Miller was Derby's attacking outlet but he was treading a fine line as he hovered near the last defender and was flagged twice for tight offsides in the first half.
Andy Griffin almost surprised the hosts when he cut in from the right and curled a long-range effort just wide, with Derby getting a little confidence from the first half-hour going scoreless.
Miller almost got behind the Reading defence but Ivar Ingimarsson clipped him deliberately and earned a booking from referee Lee Mason.
Mason then turned down two penalty appeals for Reading, both for handball. McEveley blocked a Graeme Murty effort for the first, Dean Leacock tussled with Kitson for the second.
The referee then booked Claude Davis for a foul on Doyle, with Brynjar Gunnarsson getting his header tipped over from the set-piece.
It was Benny Feilhaber's first start for Derby since his move from Hamburg in the summer, but the Brazil-born player had to curb his attacking instincts in central midfield.
At the start of the second half, it was Feilhaber's midfield team-mates who were causing Reading problems.
Skipper Matt Oakley tried his luck from long range, his volley flying wide with Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann at full stretch.
Stephen Pearson also fired wide after Tyrone Mears made progress down the right before pulling the ball back.
Despite a little bit of pressure, Derby fell behind in the 63rd minute.
Doyle steered home with his head after Murty's cross had been flicked to the back post by Derby striker Steven Howard.
The response of Derby boss Davies was to bring on Giles Barnes for Howard, while Feilhaber was replaced by Eddie Lewis.
Rob Earnshaw was brought on for Griffin and curled an effort just wide, while at the other end McEveley was fortunate to get away with handling on the edge of the area as last defender. He also smacked the ball against John Oster but escaped sanction.
