Shaun Goater, back in Bermuda this week on international duty, hit the winner on Saturday as Reading scraped a vital win over Coventry to keep them in the play-off hunt.

The Bermudian front man, who will suit up for his country on Wednesday against Nicaragua, slotted home from 15 yards in the 54th minute to give the Royals three vital points at Highfield Road in an inspired win.

But just five minutes after scoring the goal, Goater was sacrificed following the sending off of Steve Sidwell, with Steve Coppell having to shuffle his pack and put in a makeshift back four as Reading fought off 30 minutes of Coventry pressure to hold out for the victory.

?The back four as a unit were terrific, ? said Coppell, whose side are in ninth place, three points adrift of the play-off places with seven games to go.

?We?re down to the bare bones, but when we?ve got bare bones like this I don?t mind. Our players are a terrific, committed bunch and they look after each other, which they showed today by sacrificing themselves physically and being prepared to chase back.

?We knew we?d be under pressure because Coventry are flying especially at home, but we dealt very well with their threat and when we had possession we always looked like creating.

?The Goat scored a clinical goal and John Salako?s cross for his goal was almost impossible to defend.?

Goater will play against Nicaragua on Wednesday before flying back to the UK on Thursday ahead of another vital game, this time on television against play-off rivals West Ham.

The lunch-time game will see the return of former manager Alan Pardew to the Madejski Stadium.