A WONDERFUL 3-1 win over struggling Norwich City was arguably my best Christmas present this year.

It was great to see Reading dominate a team who were at the start of the season touted to go straight back up to the Premier League.

An eighth league defeat in ten games for Alex Neil's men meant an eighth win in the same ten for us.

Yann Kermorgant returned to the starting eleven, replacing the young Dominic Samuel up-front.

The Frenchman scored his fifth goal in 22 appearances so far this season and was the difference between the two teams before Nelson Oliveira equalised for the Canaries after the break.

A goalmouth scrambled led to Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson using his hand to block Paul McShane from scoring from point-blank range.

This was spotted by referee Andy Davies who subsequently awarded Reading with a penalty and Howson with a red card.

Kermorgant tried his infamous panenka-style chipped penalty which hit the bar. Luckily for him and for Reading fans, Garath McCleary was on hand to head the rebound past John Ruddy in goal.

If only Leicester had the same reaction to their play-off penalty mishap a few years ago. Who knows? They might have even done well in the Premier League!

After going ahead for the second time, Reading settled in possession and controlled the game.

A tired-looking Norwich failed to hold formation and fresh legs were introduced for Reading in pacy winger Callum Harriott and the recovering John Swift.

Swift nutmegged a Norwich defender to put Harriott in on goal. Harriott struck a venomous left-footed shot which went in via the inside of the post.

Unusually for Reading, the opposition had the majority of possession but Reading played well in an organised fashion.

Norwich pressed with aggression but Jaap Stam's team remained calm and made few errors which the same can't be said for previous games.

In front of an attendance of 21,180, the win cemented Reading's third-placed position in the Championship table with 43 points, just five below the automatic promotion spots.

The game was a big improvement on our shocking performance at Craven Cottage against Fulham earlier this season, consequently our next opponents on Friday.

It has been reported that Fulham are bringing a large following to the Madejski on Friday night which should make for a bustling atmosphere under the floodlights.

Home fans will be desperate to see continued improvement by Stam's men, especially to get revenge over Fulham for their 5-0 drubbing of us. Hopefully the Royals will have ironed out persistent mistakes and keep to an organised shape on Friday. Only a win will suffice.