Reading 1 Fulham 0:Lawrie Sanchez's first match as Fulham boss ended in defeat as Stephen Hunt scored the winner for Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Sanchez has got the better of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Luis Aragones while manager of Northern Ireland but could not find a way past Steve Coppell's Royals, for whom European qualification remains a possibility.

The former Wimbledon midfielder started his career at Reading before making his name with the Crazy Gang, but his former club did not offer any favours despite their own safety being secured.

Sanchez's contract is only for five games and Fulham fans will point to missed opportunities, slack defending and a disallowed goal from Papa Bouba Diop as the cause of his first match ending in defeat.

Neither defence showed much confidence as chances came thick and fast in the first half, most of Reading's exploiting Fulham's left where Franck Queudrue was given a torrid afternoon.

Kevin Doyle, the Republic of Ireland striker who replaced the suspended Leroy Lita in the starting XI, had the first sight of goal but stabbed wide on the six-yard line after Brynjar Gunnarsson's scuffed shot from a corner.

Brian McBride almost profited from a similarly ugly shot by Wayne Routledge but his effort was saved by Marcus Hahnemann, the former Fulham goalkeeper.

Antti Niemi threw a leg out to deny Gunnarsson when the midfielder ran through, while at the other end Ian Pearce lifted the easiest of the early chances over the bar when Simon Davies' corner was flicked on and found him unmarked.

Pearce was made to rue his miss, with the hosts taking the lead in the 15th minute.

Dave Kitson won the ball as Carlos Bocanegra and Queudrue failed to clear, which led to Seol Ki-Hyeon finding Doyle at the near post.

Doyle smuggled the ball through to Hunt who found the top corner from close range for his third of the season.

Pearce had held the Fulham defence together in the face of Reading pressure but was forced off in the 26th minute when the foot injury he suffered last month appeared to flare up.

Zat Knight came on and Fulham's new-look defence needed to guard against conceding a second.

Queudrue was caught in possession by Seol, with Niemi forced to tip over after Gunnarsson met the Reading winger's cross.

Hunt maintained Reading's threat with two volleys that went wide and there was a penalty shout against Michael Brown when he raised his hands to the ball, yet Fulham finished the half with a flourish.

Queudrue's powerful long-range volley landed on the roof of the net, while Diop had a header ruled out for offside when it appeared that it was a team-mate beyond the final defender.

Seol curled an effort over early in the second half, while the visitors had a tame penalty shout when Routledge went over in the area.

Fulham struggled to break down the hosts, with the fans calling for the introduction of Vincenzo Montella, and the frustration was illustrated by Heidar Helguson's booking for dissent.

Davies appealed for another penalty when his shot was blocked by Seol, and the Welshman then ran through but has his effort saved by Hahnemann.

Davies was then taken off for Clint Dempsey and Montella came on for Helguson, with Fulham looking for a different approach in attack.

Brown forced Hahnemann into a save with a low drive but it was the hosts who looked more likely to add to the scoring, with Doyle getting a goal ruled out for offside. Brown then hit the bar in stoppage time.

"Thank you Cookie, we are grateful. Lead us home Sanchez," read one banner from the Fulham support. The new boss has four games to do so.