Nottingham Forest 3-1 Reading

Nelson Oliveira is Nottingham Forest's leading scorer with four goals

Nelson Oliveira's double helped Nottingham Forest to only their second win in 11 games as Reading were beaten at the City Ground.

Matej Vydra side-footed the Royals in front when Oliver Norwood's shot deflected into his path.

Chris O'Grady levelled with a close-range shot, and Oliveira's superb 20-yard curler put the hosts ahead.

Oliveira tapped in O'Grady's cross after the break before Forest's Jack Hobbs received a red card.

The game came alive after a subdued start when Norwood's scuffed shot dropped kindly for Vydra to beat Dorus de Vries from close range.

But Forest - who had not scored more than twice in a league game all season - turned the match on its head.

Ryan Mendes laid the ball back for O'Grady, whose shot was spilled into his own net by Reading keeper Ali Al-Habsi for his first Forest goal.

Mendes then launched a swift counter-attack from a Reading corner, running 50 yards before sweeping a pass to Oliveira, whose superb curling shot found the top corner.

De Vries acrobatically turned Norwood's 30-yard free-kick around the post, but Forest went further ahead when O'Grady crossed for Oliveira to tap in his second.

Mendes went close to a fourth before the hosts lost defender Hobbs to his second yellow card for a late challenge on Vydra with 25 minutes left.

But Reading could not take advantage and drop to ninth, while Forest move up to 16th.

Forest manager Dougie Freedman:

"At last, we have got the result we deserved. You have to deal with setbacks in this division and I felt that we did that today.

"When we got a goal back, it felt as though there would only be one winner, even after the sending-off.

"People thought we were going to be defensive, but we chucked two forwards into the team and played on the front foot. Nelson is capable of getting goals like that."

Reading manager Steve Clarke:

"You always hope you can get something out of a game, even when you are two goals behind, but the sending-off seemed to focus Forest's minds a little.

"They played with two banks of four, in midfield and defence and they made it difficult for us. They crowded the penalty area and made it difficult for us to create anything.

"Every team has difficult moments, but we believe we can come through this one and still challenge."