IT was a moment that elicited an audible groan among the gathered press, as they eagerly scanned the team sheets for news of the line-ups.

There, tucked away among the substitutes, wearing number 13: the Reading Fans. But while the gesture may have been so cheesy as to induce nausea, behind it lay a message that the supporters of Nottingham Forest might do well to consider.

While initially the inclusion of the Reading fans among the squad may have looked like a recognition of their contribution to the team's promotion efforts, it quickly became clear that it was intended as more of an appeal.

Those Reading fans with a sense of realism will not have been too disappointed by their fall from Premiership grace last season.

But while they are not expected to flourish in the top flight, among their fans there is clearly an unwavering belief that they should be dominating the Championship.

For this yo-yo club, having reached the bottom of its string, the only way is a fizzing, spinning journey back up towards the top.

And this was an afternoon when three points were demanded, rather than hoped for, by those in blue and white who had packed into the Madejski Stadium, as their side came up against a Nottingham Forest side embroiled in a fight to avoid exiting the division at the opposite end of the table.

The only problem was that, following an opening 25 minutes in which the home side dominated and the script read almost entirely as expected – only without the goal they craved – Reading saw control, along with three points, wrestled from their grasp by a Forest side whose confidence steadily grew.

And as the home fans began to castigate rather than cajole, to jeer rather than cheer, it was those who had made the journey from Nottingham who were left to celebrate, as the momentum of the home side was slowly whittled away.

Confidence had been an issue for Forest too, during an opening period when it was all they could do to soak up endless spells of pressure, as a succession of free-kicks and corners had seen Jimmy Kebe, Noel Hunt and Brynjar Gunnarsson all spurn decent chances to break the deadlock.

With Nathan Tyson having limped off with a groin injury that is likely to see him sidelined for at least a week, the prospects of ending a run of six games without a win seemed particularly bleak for the Reds.

Robert Earnshaw and Paul Anderson may have both fired narrowly wide as half-chances fell their way, but Reading keeper Adam Federici had not had a save to make.

While Forest went into the interval with a sense of relief, they began the second period with a notable sense of urgency.

Garath McCleary, the man who had come off the bench to replace Tyson, was an influential figure, tormenting the Reading defence down the right – just as Anderson was on the opposite flank.

And Guy Moussi's athletic, prowling presence in midfield, coupled with Chris Cohen and Lewis McGugan's creativity and drive, slowly helped Forest to gain a foothold.

They issued a warning of what was to come when Cohen, having been fed by Anderson, bent a vicious shot high towards the top corner of the net from the edge of the box, which Federici swatted away acrobatically.

But the keeper could do little a few minutes later as, having been ushered into space by McCleary down the right side, McGugan drove forcefully towards the penalty area, sidestepped two challenges and hit a precise, low, left-foot finish inside the post from 18 yards.

For the Forest fans behind the goal, it was the perfect reward for an afternoon when their constant, passionate backing had been unwavering.

Despite seven minutes of added time beyond the 90 – and the encouragement of the Reading fans who finally sprang into life in more positive fashion in injury time – Paul Smith did not have a meaningful save to make in the final stages.

In fact it was McCleary who, with a little more luck, could twice have extended Forest's advantage, as they held on to what was a deserved, vital victory.

With Southampton, Plymouth, Watford and Barnsley all collecting victories as well, Forest needed three points just to keep pace with some of their rivals.

But by beating one of the sides that harbour realistic hopes of promotion, Forest have proved that they do possess the ability to turn their fortunes around.

With the exception of the injury to Tyson, Forest's squad is starting to look stronger, with Anderson, Earnshaw and Moussi all playing their part despite being a long way from full fitness.

But this was also an afternoon when, unlike Reading, Forest were lifted by the efforts of their travelling fans, whose delight was obvious at the final whistle.

With two home games in the space of five days to come at the City Ground, this will again be a vital factor.

Forest are unlikely to be tempted to go as far as putting their fans onto the team sheet when it comes to the visits of Preston tomorrow and Swansea on Saturday.

But that does not mean that the Reds supporters do not have a vital role to play in Forest's survival campaign.