Premier League 2

Newcastle win blows play-off race wide open

16 Apr 2018
Josef Yarney, Newcastle

Magpies earn 4-1 victory at Reading to stop Royals securing final Division 2 play-off place, with four teams in touching distance

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Newcastle United won 4-1 at Reading to leave four teams in with a chance of replacing the Royals in the last Premier League 2 Division 2 play-off place on the final day of the season.

Reading needed four points from their last two matches to confirm fifth position, the final play-off place, but Newcastle took the lead through Adam Wilson on 15 minutes.

Six minutes after the break, captain Owen Bailey doubled Newcastle's lead, before defender Josef Yarney (pictured) headed in the third with 55 minutes.

Tyler Frost pulled a goal back for the Royals on the hour, but soon after Stefan O'Connor completed the scoring.

Reading, on 31 points, know a victory in their final match, against Stoke City on 23 April, will secure fifth position.

Southampton, on 30 points in sixth, seventh-placed Fulham and eighth-placed Norwich City, both on 29 points, can make the play-offs if Reading fail to win. 

Defeat for Reading could give Wolverhampton Wanderers, in ninth position on 28 points, a slim chance of replacing the Royals in the top five. 

See: Reading reportNewcastle report

Next fixtures

Reading: 23 Apr v Stoke (H) PL2
Newcastle: 20 Apr v Villa (H) PL2

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