The midfielder bundled in from close range in the second half to decide a tight game and dent Reading’s play-off ambitions.

Chances were hard to come by in the opening 45 minutes.

Royals skipper Lewis Wing stuck a volley narrowly wide from the edge of the box while Charlie Savage was denied with a block from the chest of Bailey.

Jack Senior sent a header into the ground from a dangerous Bailey cross while Luke Molyneux pounced to nip the ball away from Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira only to see his shot towards an empty net blocked.

Doncaster emerged confident for the second period with Bailey and Molyneux both agonisingly close to connecting with a Senior centre.

Rovers took the lead in the 58th minute when Bailey poked home at the back post.

Reading pushed for an equaliser but Matt Ritchie’s drive from 20 yards was as close as they came as they slipped five points off the top six.