Reading 0-1 Bournemouth: Early Callum Wilson strike keeps Cherries top of Championship

• Callum Wilson opened the scoring for Bournemouth in the fourth minute
• It was Wilson's 22nd goal of the season for the Cherries 
• Bournemouth are ahead of Norwich at the top of the table by one point

By Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail

Published: 15:54 EST, 14 April 2015 | Updated: 19:49 EST, 14 April 2015

Bournemouth are within touching distance; they can almost smell the big-time.

Another hurdle on their way to the Premier League has been negotiated as they secured a hard-fought win over Reading.

This was tense, though. Manager Eddie Howe would testify to that. But winning a place in the top-flight has never been easy; Bournemouth are finding exactly that out. 

Callum Wilson celebrates after opening the scoring for Bournemouth in the fourth minute

Wilson opens the scoring for Bournemouth early on against Reading at the Madejski Stadium

But, as of yet, the Cherries aren't choking, Callum Wilson's 22nd goal of the season setting them on their way to a third successive win at the Madejski Stadium.

Howe said: ‘It was nervy, with what’s at stake it was always going to be that way. We defended for our lives and showed incredible mental strength. It was a different kind of win than we’re used to, but results are the most important things now.

‘I’d much rather we were playing total football and doing what we’ve done all season, but we are finding a new way to win and I’ll take that at this stage.’

There was no doubt over which team needed the three points more.

This victory secured Bournemouth's position in the top-six, meaning - at the very least - that they'll have a crack at promotion via the play-offs.

Reading, under Steve Clarke, have all but secured their Championship status, and with an FA Cup semi-final date at Wembley against Arsenal on the horizon the Royals, perhaps, had other matters on their mind.

And so it proved as the Cherries took a fourth minute lead when Wilson fired home from close range after Andrew Surman's shot from the edge of the area struck Adam Federici's far post.

It was exactly the start Howe wanted as they looked to maintain their position at the Championship summit.

But the visitors had goalkeeper Artur Boruc to thank in the 17th minute as he produced an outstanding one-handed save to deny Jamie Mackie's close range effort from Jordan Obita's cross.

And Nathaniel Chalobah, Hal Robson-Kanu and Obita all waste good opportunities to level for the Royals as they mustered a promising response to going behind.

These were worrying moments for Howe, who paced regularly from the dugout to his technical area to holler instructions at his players.

And despite Yann Kermogrant sending a towering header from Marc Pugh's cross narrowly wide during the dying seconds of the first-half, Bournemouth's early mojo had vanished.

Bournemouth's Simon Francis (left) on the run with Nathaniel Cahalobah in hot pursuit

Players appeal to referee Keith Stroud (right) as Wilson lies injured on the ground

Howe would have been happy to get his players in at half-time; his side, in truth, were starting to rock. That's what pressure does to a team.

In fairness to the Cherries, though, not once did they part with the passing principles that have put them on the brink of automatic promotion.

And the south-coast club looked to have regained their composure during the opening exchanges of the second half.

Though, goalscorer Wilson was booked for diving in the 55th minute as the striker took the necessity for points too far.

Yet, despite his side's improvement, Howe looked far from comfortable in his technical area.

And Bournemouth were struggling to create the opportunities that would have calmed their manager's obvious nerves.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe (centre) and his players applaud the travelling support

There were nervy moments for the travelling Bournemouth fans as the end of the match approached

One mistake, one moment of magic from a Reading player and this match would have been back in the balance.

Not only the match, but his side's chances of automatic promotion.

Matt Richie went within inches of providing Howe and his team the cushion that they desperately craved in the 63rd minute.

The Royals defence made a mockery of trying to clear a Bournemouth throw deep inside their half, the ball eventually fell to Richie who let fly with a curling left-footed effort that skimmed the top of Federici's far post.

Steve Cook then saw his half-volley from the edge of the area held by Federici as the visitors started to turn the screw.

Wilson (bottom) is challenged by Reading's Alex Pearce during the Championship clash

Reading manager Steve Clarke gestures to his players but the hosts could not find a way back

But Reading refused to lie down, and had Danny Williams not miskicked in the final six minutes then the hosts could easily have pulled level.

Wilson missed a glorious chance to seal victory for Bournemouth in the 87th minute, but his control let him down at the vital moment.

And the visitors had endure some terrifying moments as Reading laid siege to the Cherries goal.

But Howe's side held on for another vital victory as their promotion bandwagon rolls on... just.

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