Bournemouth have edged closer to the Championship playoff places after a comfortable victory over Reading, which sees them close to within two points of the Royals in sixth position.

Despite a positive start from the visitors that saw both Kaspars Gorkss and Jordan Obita threaten the Cherries goal, it was the Dorset club who took the lead when Matt Ritchie diverted Lewis Grabban's cross beyond Alex McCarthy.

With 19 minutes played, Ritchie doubled Bournemouth's advantage when his well-struck effort found the bottom corner of the Royals net.

Pavel Pogrebnyak looked to pull a goal back for Reading, but his effort from the heart of the area was well held by Lee Camp.

However, Bournemouth were in the ascendancy and soon found a third goal when Yann Kermorgant tucked away a Simon Francis cross, as the result looked beyond doubt before the half-time whistle.

Reading did pull a goal back with 15 minutes remaining when Hal Robson-Kanu unleashed a thunderous low drive that found the bottom corner of Camp's net.

However, it proved to be in vain as Bournemouth extended their excellent recent run, now six wins in their last eight games, and join Brighton & Hove Albion and Ipswich Town on 61 points in the Championship standings.