Shaun Goater's domestic season ended yesterday with Reading going down to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Watford.

The Royals' play-off chances were always going to be slim after an inconsistent season and only a victory at Vicarage Road - and three other games going in their favour - could have extended their season.

But a 44th minute strike by Ashley Young was enough to see off Steve Coppell's men to bring Goater's first season with the Division One club to an abrupt end.

Goater will now take up to a ten days off before returning to the Island to begin preparation for the World Cup qualifying game against El Salvador as well as continue organising his Grassroots Festival which begins towards the end of the month.

The Bermudian frontman started the vital game against Watford but was replaced after 55 minutes by Lloyd Owusu.

Boss Steve Coppell was angered by the defeat that left Reading in ninth place in the the league.

“I'm massively disappointed,” he said after yesterday's loss. “I thought with the occasion and the fabulous support we'd raise our game but for reasons I just can't explain we never got going.

“At half-time I was angry with the players because I felt they'd not really got to grips with the importance of the situation.

“In the second half we huffed and puffed and pushed people forward but I blame myself because I didn't give them a good enough shape, we were too cluttered in an attacking sense and whenever it broke down we were left chasing back.

“It's not satisfactory that the last performance of the season was like this, you'd rather go into the break with the memory of a performance like the one against West Brom last week. It would have been a big plus to go into the summer if we'd won three in a row.”

Meanwhile West Ham United, relegated from the Premiership a year ago, retained their hopes of a quick return by qualifying for the playoffs with a 1-1 at Wigan Athletic to deny their hosts a place in the top six.

Third-placed Sunderland, who had already secured a playoff berth, finished on 79 points after a 2-1 win at Burnley.

Sunderland will meet Palace in the two-legged playoff semi-finals, while West Ham face Ipswich.

Walsall, under former England midfielder Paul Merson as temporary player-manager, won 3-2 at home to Rotherham but were relegated to Division Two.