FORMER England captain Paul Ince couldn't hide his delight after kicking off his Reading interim reign with victory against Birmingham City on Tuesday night.
Second half goals from Lucas Joao and John Swift (pen) were enough for the Royals to bag three precious points before Tom McIntyre put through his own net with eight minutes to play.
“We haven't had time on the training ground with them because we're down to the bare bones,” Ince told BBC Radio Berkshire. “We've got kids on the bench – it's a tough challenge here, but the lads gave me everything.
“First time back for a long time, you get nervous and the heart is pumping. I don't get nervous for myself, I get nervous for the fans and for the players because I want them to stay in this league. They are too good not to be in this league.
“As a manager you just want to get the first win and to get it straight away in front of your fans is great.”
However, it was more gloom for Ince's former Manchester United team-mate Steve Bruce as West Brom slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, who moved into the play-off places.
The Baggies took the lead through Jayson Molumby, but a second half turnaround courtesy of goals from Paddy McNair and James Tavernier saw them lose their fourth game in the last five and remain winless under Bruce.
Viktor Gyokeres scored in the last minute at Bristol City to put Coventry two points off the play-off places.
Goals from Coventry's Ian Maatsen and the Robins' Chris Martin had the game level entering the dying embers, but Gyokeres' counter-attacking goal gave the Sky Blues a crucial 2-1 win.
Battling Barnsley bagged their second win in three matches against fellow strugglers Hull, with Callum Styles and Carlton Morris giving the Championship's bottom club a glimmer of hope of a revival.
Preston and Nottingham Forest played out a goalless draw at Deepdale.
League One
In League One, leaders Rotherham maintained their momentum with a solid 2-0 home win against managerless Morecambe, with Freddie Ladapo notching both goals in the first half.
Wigan cemented their place in the top two with a 3-1 win at out-of-form Wycombe. The Chairboys took the lead through Sullay Kaikai, but Wigan turned it around with Tom Naylor finding the net before Callum Lang bagged a brace.
MK Dons remain third after a 2-0 win at Charlton, with Tennai Watson and Kaine Kesler-Hayden on target.
At the bottom, Doncaster moved within four points from safety with a 2-0 win against Accrington Stanley, with Josh Martin and Joseph Olowu grabbing the goals.
Elsewhere in League One, Cambridge beat Plymouth 2-0, Oxford won 1-0 at Crewe, Shrewsbury lost 2-1 at home to Portsmouth and Bolton won 3-1 at home to Lincoln. Sunderland and Burton drew 1-1, while Gillingham v AFC Wimbledon and Ipswich v Cheltenham finished goalless.
League Two
In League Two, Swindon recorded their third successive victory, 5-0 at home to Walsall. Louie Barry and Ricky Aguiar both scored braces before Jonny Williams completed the rout and moved the Robins fifth.
A goalless draw for Northampton away to bottom club Scunthorpe moved the Cobblers above Tranmere on goal difference into second.
Harrogate came from a goal down to win 3-1 against Bradford, with Warren Burrell, Lewis Page and Jack Diamond cancelling out Matthew Foulds' opener.
Bristol Rovers claimed their third straight win, 2-0 away at Leyton Orient, which brought the curtain down on Kenny Jackett O's reign.
Antony Evans and Aaron Collins both scored in the first half to continue Rovers' surge up the table.
Hartlepool won 2-1 at Colchester, while Rochdale drew 1-1 with Port Vale.
By JOE ACKLAM
