By Isaac Farnworth at Madejski Stadium –
READING withstood a tense finish at the Madejski to continue their rich vein of form, making it five league wins in a row, thanks to first half goals from Garath McCleary and Roy Beerens.
Royals came flying out of the traps, moving 2-0 up inside 20 minutes as McCleary tucked in on the rebound after his penalty was saved before Beerens slammed in to cap a fine passing move.
But there was to be a grandstand finish when Bristol City skipper Gary O’Neil rattled in in the 87th minute as Reading conceded for the first time in 447 minutes.
And despite a late scramble and penalty appeal, Jaap Stam’s man held on to seal three more points.
It was in-form Reading who started the brighter of the two teams and Dominic Samuel was handed the game’s first chance when he was fed through by McCleary’s inviting low cross but the striker’s shot was blocked out for a corner.
Making just his second Championship start, 22-year-old Samuel was brought down by Bristol City defender Hordur Magnusson in the box and referee Tim Robinson pointed to the spot.
Royals top scorer McCleary stepped up but saw his penalty saved by City keeper Frank Fielding down to his right.
However, McCleary was there to poke home the rebound on the stretch to put Reading ahead after 13 minutes.
City rallied and came close to finding an equaliser almost immediately when City centre-back Aden Flint fired a rasping shot just wide of Ali Al-Habsi’s goal.
Reading then finished off a long spell of passing and possession with a powerful Beerens
volley from just inside the box which followed a neat dink by Chris Gunter to net the Dutchman his third goal of the season and double Reading’s advantage.
Again Bristol rallied and barring a spectacular reflex save from Al-Habsi and an offside decision, City would have reduced the deficit when the Reading keeper somehow found a way to keep out Bobby Reid’s header from point blank range. 19-year-old Tammy Abraham had the ball in the back of the net shortly after however he was judged to have been in an offside position.
As the first period drew to a close Obita and Beerens threatened the City goal, with the latter getting his speculative bicycle kick attempt all wrong. Bobby Reid also drew a save out of Al-Habsi before the sides headed into half time with Reading two up.
City began the second period with a purpose, with Tammy Abraham racing through after the restart only to shank his shot well wide. Jamie Paterson continued City’s early second half pressure, firing wide following Abraham’s driving run.
Reading weathered the storm however, and McCleary’s venomous strike forced a smart save out of City keeper Fielding. Down the other end shortly after, Al-Habsi was on form to push Reid’s effort from the edge of the area around the post and out for a corner.
Samuel missed the target with a shot on the turn and Danny Williams volleyed wide from the edge of the area as Reading pressed for a third to kill off the game.
City substitute Aaron Wilbraham received the ball in the box and fired a shot towards goal but Royals defender Liam Moore managed to block it out to safety. Reading captain McShane also made a fantastic block when the ball broke to Reid.
City finally found a reply late on when the ball fell to captain O’Neil on the edge of the area and he drove it past Al-Habsi to set up a nervy finish.
Reading held on though, to secure a fifth straight league win, and keep up the pressure on Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion in the automatic promotion places in the Championship table.
READING: Al-Habsi; Gunter, McShane (c), L. Moore, Blackett; Williams, Evans, Beerens (Kelly 90+1); McCleary (Harriott 74), Obita, Samuel (Meite 69).
Subs not used: S. Moore, Watson, Cooper, Mendes.
Goals: McCleary (13), Beerens (19)
Yellow cards: L. Moore (48), Beerens (61)
BRISTOL CITY: Fielding; Little (Wilbraham 58), Flint, Magnusson, Bryan; Pack; Paterson (O’Dowda 58), Reid, O’Neil (c), Tomlin (Engvall 76); Abraham.
Subs not used: Smith, Freeman, T. Moore, Lucic.
Goal: O’Neil (87)
Yellow cards: Bryan (83), Wilbraham (90+3)
Referee: Tim Robinson
Attendance: 18,778 (inc. 3,529 away)
