Shane Long and Dave Kitson scored the goals as Reading boosted their survival hopes with a priceless 2-0 victory over Manchester City at the Madejski Stadium.

After City had dominated the opening hour, Long grabbed a slick opener before substitute Kitson sealed the points with an excellent second just minutes from time.

The result lifts the Royals out of the drop-zone and up an amazing five places to 13th, with most of the bottom clubs not playing on Saturday.

City, meanwhile, are in free-fall, having won just one of their last 11 games, with their hopes of European football fading fast after a bright start to the season.

City had a golden chance to open the scoring 23 minutes in when Elano's inswinging free-kick into the penalty area missed everyone, only for Vedran Corluka to somehow prod the bouncing ball over the crossbar from five yards out.

The visitors were then forced into a change at the back when inspirational skipper Richard Dunne was taken off with what looked to be a fairly serious injury, Sun Jihai coming on to replace him.

Nicky Shorey's glancing header from John Oster's free-kick from the left bounced just the wrong side of the post with Joe Hart beaten on one of Reading's few bright moments of the first half.

City felt they should have had a penalty just before the break when Michael Johnson went down in the box after nicking the ball in front of Ivar Ingimarsson - only for referee Uriah Rennie to book the young midfielder for diving.

The visitors continued to make all the running after the break, Elano and Gelson Fernandes going close with efforts from outside the box.

But despite all their pressure, it was the home side who made the breakthrough with a slick goal, Kevin Doyle getting behind Ball before pulling the ball back from the by-line to Long, who finished first-time past Hart.

The goal gave the home side renewed confidence, and they came close to doubling their lead when Andrey Bikey's deflected shot hit the crossbar.

Sven Goran Eriksson threw on substitutes Nery Castillo and Felipe Caicedo as he went in search of an equaliser, but it was a gamble that allowed Reading plenty of space to exploit on the counter.

And Kitson took full advantage as the clock ticked down, cutting in from the right flank as the City defenders backed off, before tucking a low shot inside the near post.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport