Luton Town 1-0 Reading: Harry Cornick goal gets Hatters into play-offs
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Harry Cornick tapped into an empty net after Reading keeper Orjan Nyland failed to see the Luton forward behind him
Harry Cornick secured a Championship play-off place for Luton after an embarrassing mistake by Reading goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, which will be destined for the bloopers archive.
Cornick's goal in first-half stoppage time ensured the Hatters finished sixth in the table, and they will now face Huddersfield in the play-off semi-finals as their Premier League dream lives on.
The goal came after Norwegian Nyland rolled the ball to the top of his penalty area as he prepared to clear, totally unaware that Cornick was hiding behind him.
To his horror, the Luton striker sprinted into view, touched the ball into space, swivelled and turned the ball into an empty net with his right boot as the hapless goalkeeper looked on.
Eight years after they were a non-league side, Luton knew victory would secure their place in the Championship top six, but they had to respond to Monday's 7-0 humiliation at Fulham.
Reading were already safe but this was their 25th defeat of the season. Paul Ince's side finished 21st, four points above the bottom three.
Luton should have gone ahead in the opening minutes as Cameron Jerome was sent through on goal, but he could not beat Nyland.
Jerome came close in the second half as he crashed a shot against the bar and James Bree also curled a free-kick just wide.
The insurance goal would not come for Nathan Jones' side but scores elsewhere ensured a peaceful finale for the home side - with Middlesbrough and Millwall both losing.
Reading came close to an equaliser midway through the second half but Matt Ingram saved Michael Morrison's back-post header from Josh Laurent's cross.
Luton manager Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"We were aware of the scores elsewhere so there weren't too many nerves.
"I'm just glad we won the game and we got to 75 points, which was our goal at the start of the season.
"We've had a magnificent season, we were here two years ago to stay in the league and now we've got an opportunity to get out of the league.
"I'm so proud of the whole club."
Reading manager Paul Ince told BBC Radio Berkshire:
"I told the boys to go and express themselves but we started slow and since I've been here we have times we start slow and it's cost us.
"It was down to one moment and you feel for the goalkeeper because he also made a tremendous save.
"I was just glad we didn't need a point today.
"Second half I thought we were excellent and deserved an equaliser."