The Wanderers hadn't picked up maximum points away from the Reebok since an Easter success over local rivals Wigan Athletic but they where good value in Berkshire this afternoon.

Gary Megson's side kept their third clean sheet in succession and could have had more goals had Matthew Taylor not seen his penalty saved by Royals keeper Marcus Hahnemann.

It was a positive start to the month for the Trotters and the victory today takes them up to the comfort zone of thirteenth in the Premier League table

Megson gave a debut to £5 million defender Gary Cahill and awarded striker Heidar Helguson only his second start of the season so far.

Veteran midfielder Ivan Campo was also back in the Bolton side following a one game suspension and he replaced the injured Gavin McCann in the heart of the midfield.

It was a tight start to the game to begin with but Bolton showed good capabilities at both ends of the pitch by staying organised in defence and breaking well in attack.

Wanderers full back Gretar Steinsson was getting forward well and it was his surging run from the defence which forced the first corner of the game on 20 minutes.

Taylor delivered in the resulting set piece but Helguson was unable to get enough accuracy on his header to force a save out of home keeper Hahnemann.

Steinsson was involved in another attacking move for Bolton a few minutes later and this culminated in him being fouled in the penalty area by Reading's Marek Matejovsky.

Referee Phil Dowd had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot but Taylor was unable to convert his first goal for the club as Hahnemann dived the right way to deny the ex-Portsmouth man.

Bolton kept plugging away despite the set back and on the half hour Helguson fired wide as the visitors came ever closer to taking the lead.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 33rd minute in typical Wanderers style. A long free kick upfield was flicked on by Davies and skipper Nolan was first to react to fire the ball past Hahnemann.

Five minutes before the break goalscorer Nolan fancied his chances again, only this time his long distance volley went sailing just over the Reading crossbar.

Going into the break Bolton proved good value for their lead and continued in the same veign at the very start of the second half when Helguson volleyed a lay off from debutant Gary Cahill just wide of the mark.

Cahill was immense for the Wanderers throughout the game and the investment made by Gary Megson could prove to be a good bit of business in the time that lies ahead.

The England U21 star showed particularly good defensive play shortly after the break when, along with his defensive collegues, he managed to over ride a flurry of Reading pressure and corner kicks.

Steve Coppell's men where almost gifted an equaliser as Campo nearly headed into the back of his own net from a Nicky Shorey free kick but the on loan Danny Guthrie spared his fellow midfielder's blushes by heading off the line.

Despite the home side pushing to get a foothold back in the game it was Bolton who doubled their advantage shortly before the hour when Helguson broke the offside trap to prod home his second of the season.

Helguson has spent the majority of the campaign on the sidelines so the chance to score on his return to the starting line up will have come as a great releif for the Icelander.

Lively winger Stephen Hunt looked to restore some parity for Reading as the second half gained momentum but he saw his shot come off goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and hit the side netting.

Jaaskelainen had to be at his very best to deny England defender Nicky Shorey the chance of pulling a goal back from a free kick, whilst striker Kevin Doyle headed a rare chance over the top.

Doyle could have netted in the dying moments but a last ditch tackle from the excellent Cahill denied the Irishman the chance of getting on the scoresheet.

Bolton are back at home in their next game as they entertain European chasers Portsmouth at the Reebok Stadium a week today.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Gretar Steinsson, Andy O'Brien, Gary Cahill, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Davies, Danny Guthrie (Tamir Cohen), Ivan Campo, Kevin Nolan, Matthew Taylor (Jlloyd Samuel), Heidar Helguson (El-Hadji Diouf)

SUBS NOT USED: Grzegorz Rasiak, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

READING: Marcus Hahnemann, Graeme Murty, Ivar Ingimarsson, Nicky Shorey, Khalifa Cisse, James Harper (Ibrahima Sonko), Marek Matejovsky, Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Leroy Lita (Shane Long), Dave Kitson (John Oster)

SUBS NOT USED: Ulises De La Cruz, Adam Federici (GK)

ATTENDANCE:

21,893

REFEREE:

Phil Dowd

BOOKED:

Davies (Bolton)

Lita (Reading)

Kitson (Reading)

Ingimarsson (Reading)

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