Birmingham 1 Reading 3:Noel Hunt and Kevin Doyle were both on target as Reading ominously moved into the top two of the Coca-Cola Championship with a crucial win over promotion rivals Birmingham at St Andrews.

Noel Hunt had shaken off a head injury to bend in a 25-yard free-kick before later succumbing to his second knockout blow of the season after a clash of heads with Franck Queudrue .

Doyle took advantage of slack defending midway through the second half to head in Stephen Hunt's free-kick and render a moment of individual brilliance from Blues striker Kevin Phillips worthless.

Phillips had dragged Alex McLeish's side level against the run of play with a fine solo goal only for Doyle to respond and midfielder Kalifa Cisse added a late third which sees Reading leapfrog their hosts into the automatic promotion places.