The Royals had previously struggled to reproduce the zesty displays that took them to eighth last term in their first top-flight campaign.

But they dominated on this occasion and thoroughly deserved a late winner from substitute Shane Long.

Coppell said: "Our performance was more like the way we played last year - there was a lot of energy about it. From my point of view it was like seeing an old friend. I enjoyed it."

Dave Kitson put Reading ahead early in the second half after the recalled Leroy Lita had spurned two great chances.

Michael Duberry's clumsy own goal gave Newcastle hope of a point but Long popped up within a handful of seconds of replacing Lita to win the game.

Coppell said: "His family was over from Ireland. I was umming and ahhing about whether to make a change but the timing was fortunately exquisite.

"He wasn't on at me to bring him on - he never does - but he is certainly one of the quickest to get on. Some of the more seasoned pro's seem to take an age.

"Consistently this year substitutes have made an impact in our games. It's a trend of this season. Shane came on and introduced some real gusto to our play. He has bags of energy and is a young man with a point to prove, which is a nice combination.

"And because he has not been through an apprenticeship he does things differently in an unexpected way. Sometimes that can be frustrating for us just as much as it is dangerous for the opposition."

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce was convinced his side should have been awarded an early penalty when Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann appeared to collide with Michael Owen but he admitted his side had been second best overall.

He said: "It is disappointing when you throw it away like that. Whether we deserved to be level - and you would probably have to say we didn't - nevertheless we had got it.

"Reading were nervous and it gave us our best spell of the game but if you are going to give stupid goals away like that then you are not going to deserve anything.

"It was just such a basic error to concede a goal like that at that stage of the game. We didn't deal with the first ball but more importantly didn't deal with the second either and the young lad comes on, runs behind and scores the winner for them."