Federici's Reading win promotion to EPL

Qantas Socceroos goalkeeper Adam Federici has kept his 20th clean sheet of the season to help Reading return to the top flight.

Qantas Socceroos goalkeeper Adam Federici will be back in the Premier League next season after his Reading side secured their return to the top flight with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Mikele Leigertwood's goal from an Ian Harte free-kick nine minutes from time was the only goal of the game at the Madejski Stadium.

But that was enough to take the Royals back to the top flight for the first time since 2008, with the players swamped by joyful Reading fans who swarmed onto the pitch at the final whistle.

The 1-0 win gave Federici a table-topping 20th clean sheet for the season, one in which he has been dominant along with his defence, conceding just 37 goals to this point, which is the fewest in the league.

With only the top two sides guaranteed promotion, victory gave Championship leaders Reading an unbeatable eight-point lead over third-placed West Ham, with only a maximum of six on offer to the Hammers from their final two regular season league games.