Jobi McAnuff helped ease the pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers as Reading ended their run of four consecutive defeats with an impressive 3-1 triumph over Coventry.

The winger, who followed Rodgers from Watford to the Madejski stadium, scored his first goal for the Royals and set up the other two for Grzegorz Rasiak and it was enough to lift Reading out of the relegation zone.

Coventry did find the net after failing to score in their last three games, through Freddy Eastwood, but it was of little consequence for Chris Coleman's men, who have now not won in five matches.

Reading were woeful in front of goal against Leicester on Monday night but it took them just 27 seconds to get the opener as Rasiak headed into the top corner from close range.

Reading extended their lead when McAnuff's shot from a half-clearance soared into the top-left corner from 12 yards.

Coventry substitute Leon Best set up strike partner Eastwood, who fired past Federici from 20 yards, but the Sky Blues' rising hopes of an equaliser plummeted when Rasiak followed up McAnuff's shot, which had rebounded off the post, to restore Reading's two-goal advantage.