A goalkeeping howler from Chris Weale handed Nottingham Forest a 3-2 win over Leicester which keeps alive their dreams of promotion to the Premier League.

The Foxes goalkeeper saw Paul McKenna's weak shot squirm through his hands to seal a priceless three points which takes Billy Davies' men back into the top six above Leeds, who could only draw 0-0 with Reading at Elland Road.

After a high-octane start which saw two goals in the space of five first-half minutes from Marcus Tudgay and Matt Oakley, the match appeared to be petering out as players wilted in the scorching spring sunshine.

Robert Earnshaw then pounced to put the hosts back in front with less than 20 minutes left, only for substitute Darius Vassell to level 60 seconds later for Sven-Goran Eriksson's men.

Both sides were guilty of surrendering possession cheaply and a draw looked likely until skipper McKenna was handed the winner to give Forest just a second win in 12 games.

Fourth-placed Reading, seeking a win to boost their hopes of automatic promotion, saw their eight-match winning run end at Leeds.

Leeds' Bradley Johnson came closest to settling a game of few chances when he hit the bar in the second half - but the West Yorkshire side surrendered their top-six place.

Scunthorpe remain three points adrift of safety in the Championship relegation zone after a 1-1 draw with Coventry at the Ricoh Arena.

The visitors fell behind in the fifth minute when in-form striker Marlon King rifled a shot past Joe Murphy and into the corner to take his goal tally for the season to 13 - and six in his last four games.

Scunthorpe equalised seven minutes before the break when Ramon Nunez, who had extended his loan deal from Leeds earlier in the week, latched on to a through-ball and fired in from outside the box.

Neither side was able to find another goal after the break, meaning Alan Knill's team stay in 22nd place in the table.

Crystal Palace are still three points better off than Scunthorpe with three games left to play as they drew 0-0 at Doncaster.

The South Yorkshire side, in 20th, are two points above the Eagles, for whom Neil Danns went closest by hitting the post.