Jobi McAnuff was credited with two first-half goals as Reading beat Albion 3-0 at the Madejski Stadium today.

The second, which seemed to go in off either team-mate Simon Church or defender Gordon Greer, proved to be the killer blow just moments before the break although the Seagulls tried all they knew to get back into the game afer half-time.

Lewis Dunk had already been forced to clear from in front of his own goal by the time McAnuff shot the hosts in front from Jimmy Kebe's low cross on 17 minutes.

Reading deserved their lead but Albion gradually came into the game, producing some neat build-up play.

Matt Sparrow went closest to an equaliser with a curler just past the far post late in the half.

Reading, though, struck a major blow in the second of two added minutes when McAnuff cut inside and saw his angled shot flick off the head of either striker Church or Greer before nestling inside the far post.

Albion's best moments early in the second period came when they got the ball wide to Kazenga LuaLua on the left.

It was therefore some surprise when the winger was removed, along with Will Buckley, as part of a double switch just after the hour.

But Craig Noone's low cross to the near post almost helped get Albion back into the game, only for fellow sub Billy Paynter to fire off target from close range.

Craig Mackail-Smith seemed to be shoved in the back by Andy Griffin as he looked to head in another Noone cross, but nothing was given.

And Ryan Harley had an angled drive well saved by Adam Federici low to his left after patient build-up.

The Seagulls were vastly improved in the final quarter of the game but two nightmare moments in front of goal for Craig Mackail-Smith finally ended their hopes of a comeback.

First he failed to make proper contact on a Dunk cross right in front of goal, then he saw a header bounce inches wide with many of Albion's 2,751 fans at that end already cheering a goal.

Reading added a flattering third deep into added time at the end of the game as Kebe's low cross was deflected into his own net by the back-tracking Adam El-Abd.