Substitute Mathieu Manset's second half strike earned Reading a 1-0 win over Barnsley at Oakwell. The win moved Reading, unbeaten in seven games, to within three points of the play-offs.

"When the ball goes near Mathieu, he comes alive," said Royals boss Brian McDermott. "He'll be a good player for us for many years, I'm sure.

"He's a work in progress and we're working on him day in, day out to improve him.

"He's a big, strong lad and he's really popular in the dressing room."

McDermott added: "It's a big win for us before the two-week break.

"We're absolutely delighted because this is never an easy place to come to and sometimes you can't play the type of football you want to play.

"For the goal, the ball was going out of play but Shane Long was strong enough to take the ball off the defender and square it to Mathieu Manset, who scored.

"We had some opportunities and it would have been nice to have scored a second goal."

Barnsley manager Mark Robins simply looked to his lengthy injury list.

"We've got half the side out and it cost us.

"When we've got players out, that's when we lose discipline.

"We had the midfield out and we had to use players who haven't played a lot of football recently.

"We can hopefully now get some of the players fit during the international break."

Defeat ended Barnsley's three-match unbeaten run, and they have won just once in their last nine outings.

Robins added: "The ball was up in the air a lot and that's not what I've asked them to do.

"The goal would have been a comedy if it wasn't so disappointing.

"The one time when Nathan (Doyle) had to boot the ball clear, he didn't do it.

"Our best two chances fell to Martin Devaney and he was slightly unfortunate to not put either of them away."