Kevin Doyle's penalty at Craven Cottage earned victory over 10-man Fulham and made it three Barclays Premiership wins in a row for Reading.

Fulham defender Ian Pearce gets straight red

Doyle slotted home in the 17th minute after he was brought down in the area, with Ian Pearce given a straight red card for his foul on the six-yard line.

The newly-promoted Royals, who continue to impress as they establish themselves in the top half of the Premiership, held on despite pressure from the hosts and a penalty appeal when Tomasz Radzinski went over in the area.

Tipped for relegation at the start of the season, the high-tempo game of Reading caused problems for Fulham and Doyle's work in attack always threatened.

The Republic of Ireland international has scored in each game of the three-match winning sequence they have put together.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman had played under his Reading counterpart Steve Coppell at Crystal Palace, and recently recalled how he reluctantly played as a makeshift striker at Selhurst Park.

Following last week's defeat at Manchester City, Coleman made changes to his own attack, bringing in Collins John after his goal at Eastlands, while midfielder Michael Brown made a comeback from his ankle injury.

John's striker partner, Brian McBride, had looped a header on to the roof of the net early on, but it was Reading striker Doyle who made an explosive impact on the game when he opened the scoring.

Glen Little guided the ball over the top for James Harper to chase on the right and he fed Doyle, who took a touch and was tripped in the six-yard area by Ian Pearce.

The Fulham defender was dismissed with a straight red card and Doyle sent Antti Niemi the wrong way for his third strike in three Premiership games.

Doyle was in the thick of the action and then appeared to make contact with Liam Rosenior using his elbow in an aerial challenge, with the full-back requiring treatment.

To compound Fulham's poor start to the game, skipper Luis Boa Morte and Rosenior were involved in an animated argument as Niemi prepared for a goal kick after Seol Ki-Hyeon had a shot deflected wide.

The visitors were forced into a change in the 33rd minute when Steve Sidwell was replaced by Brynjar Gunnarsson, while Little was then forced off four minutes later, with John Oster brought on.

Harper was cautioned for leaving a foot in as Rosenior cleared, while Ivar Ingimarsson was cautioned for handball as the intensity of the match increased.

Rosenior then showed his pace on the right before his deflected cross was met by McBride and Royals goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was forced to save the diving header.

Franck Queudrue was forced off in first half stoppage time and was replaced by Carlos Bocanegra but Fulham were still pushing for a leveller before the break.

John nearly bundled home only for Ingimarsson to clear off the line as Claus Jensen closed in on an open goal.

Jensen came closer three minutes after the break when he curled an effort which required a save from Hahnemann, while Ibrahima Sonko was booked two minutes later for his foul on McBride.

Fulham felt they should have had a penalty in the 59th minute but Dermot Gallagher awarded a goal kick when Radzinski went down in the penalty area under the challenge of Nicky Shorey.

Rosenior got behind the Reading defence just after the hour mark but his cross was cleared, and John's header from the resulting corner went over the crossbar.

Fulham were attacking with purpose but struggled with their final pass, while Doyle's work for the visitors meant they were always a threat.

Radzinski snatched at a shot and found the side-netting after John had bundled his way through from a set-piece, as Fulham applied pressure on Reading.

The visitors appealed unsuccessfully for a Bocanegra handball in the area with 18 minutes left, while at the other end the American had a scissor-kick drift wide.

Oster and Doyle had late efforts saved and the visitors held on, with McBride going just wide with a 30-yard drive.

Fulham Niemi, Rosenior, Pearce, Knight,Queudrue (Bocanegra 45), Radzinski (Routledge 75),Claus Jensen, Brown (Diop 75), Boa Morte, McBride, John.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Helguson.

Sent Off: Pearce (16, pf).

Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey,Little (Oster 38), Sidwell (Gunnarsson 33), Harper, Hunt,Ki-Hyeon (Lita 90), Doyle.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Bikey.

Booked: Harper, Ingimarsson, Sonko.

Goals: Doyle 17 pen.

Att: 22,673

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).