Reading moved to within touching distance of moving out of the relegation zone after a comfortable 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

In a match devoid of much quality, Femi Azeez's stunning strike in the first half and Sam Smith's neat finish in the second proved enough against a toothless Latics side sliding down the table.

It was the visitors who took control in the early knockings of the game, getting forward quick and looking to threaten from set pieces as Reading took some time to adjust. The Latics nearly took the lead in the first 15 minutes as a corner caused havoc in the box, with the ball somehow hooked clear as it looked destined for the back of the net. Azeez and Paul Mukairu were very involved throughout, and the pair of wingers teamed up on 20 minutes to send Azeez through on goal in the box. He was bound to open the scoring were it not for an excellent last-ditch block from defender Liam Morrison.

In a half devoid of any real quality, it was an individual moment of glory which gave Reading the lead. Knocking the ball past Steven Sessegnon in his own half, Azeez drove to the edge of the box before laying it off to Lewis Wing. The midfielder nudged it in Azeez’s direction, and the winger smashed a powerful effort past Sam Tickle and into the back of the net from outside the penalty box. Trailing heading toward the break, it took until stoppage time for Shaun Maloney’s men to have another effort, with Charlie Wyke heading the ball past the post despite being stood in the middle of the penalty box and totally unmarked.

If Reading could be accused of starting slowly in the first half, that could certainly not be the case for the second as the Royals doubled their lead within five minutes of the restart. Applying plenty of pressure from the kick-off, Mbengue’s cross found Smith unmarked in the box and he just neatly guided a volley past the helpless Tickle into the corner. Dominating proceedings for the next 25 minutes, the side could not make their pressure tell and Wigan were always just a strike away from making the SCL Stadium nervy.

Nelson Abbey was let off the hook with 20 minutes to go as he was dispossessed by Callum McManaman and the winger was able to drive into the box before forcing David Button into a smart save and spare Abbey’s blushes. Despite bringing on forward line reinforcements, such as Stephen Humphrys and Chris Sze, the Latics were unable to truly test Button through their own good work.

Reading moved up to 21st and within one point of safety heading into a packed festive schedule. Two of the sides in a run of three matches in six days are down at the bottom with the Royals, giving them every chance of clawing away from relegation danger.