Reading 1-0 Stoke

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Jamie Cureton's 51st-minute goal sent Reading four points clear of Brighton at the top of the Division Two table as they beat Stoke at the Madejski Stadium.

Cureton pounced when Stoke goalkeeper Neil Cutler could only block Nicky Forster's shot.

The ball rebounded to Cureton, who fired it high into the net for his 12th goal of the season.

Stoke's chances of a fightback were hampered by the dismissal of defender Siarhei Shtaniuk, who was sent-off for his second bookable offence, a foul on Sammy Igoe in the 62nd minute.

Reading's biggest league gate of the season saw the home team dominate against a Stoke side who have now slipped 11 points behind them in the promotion race.

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Reading: Whitehead, Murty, Shorey, Mackie, Viveash, Igoe, Parkinson, Hughes, Salako, Cureton, Forster. Subs: Ashdown, Neil Smith, Gamble, Henderson, Roget.

Stoke: Cutler, Handyside, Shtaniuk, Flynn, Clarke, Thomas, Henry, O'Connor, Gudjonsson, Burton, Gunnlaugsson. Subs: Vandeurzen, Iwelumo, Hoekstra, Viander, Cooke.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).