READING FC earned three points on their return to Championship action against Coventry City thanks to Amadou Mbengue’s first goal in Royals colours.
Having played out a scrappy first-haf and survived some close shaves early in the second-half, Mbengut netted his first professional goal in the 57th minute to put Reading ahead.
That proved to be the only goal of the game which sees Reading rise up to eighth in the table before the 3pm kick-offs.
In Reading’s first game since the World Cup break, goalkeeper Joe Lumley returned to action while Andy Carroll partnered Yakou Meite up front.
After playing in the soaring heat in Qatar for their respective nations in the World Cup, it was back to reality in freezing temperatures for Baba Rahman and Junior Hoilett who went straight into the starting eleven after their return last week.
There was a welcome return for Naby Sarr on the subs bench, who hasn’t featured in a matchday squad since the 4-0 defeat to Sheffield United in August.
Tom Holmes had to be withdrawn early after going down on two separate occasions. He was replaced by Tom McIntyre in the eighth minute.
Reading’s first sight of goal came in the 12th minute when Meite’s high press won possession deep in Coventry’s half before Tom Ince swiped a shot high and wide from distance.
Coventry’s best attack of the half came in the 18th minute when they tried to slide the ball through for top scorer Viktor Gyokeres, but Royals skipper Andy Yiadom was on hand to make a vital sliding tackle to prevent the Swede from having a one-on-one.
The Sky Blues found a decent spell in the game and would have gone in front had it not been for the hand of Joe Lumley who stretched low to keep out a sweetly struck low drive from Callum O’Hare.
The first booking of the game went to Coventry’s Callum Doyle when he tripped Meite who was on a one man break at the opposition goal.
Mark Robins’ side found a few clear openings with free-kicks but were unable to take advantage. Gustavo Hamer tried his luck by aiming at Lumley’s near post but his shot whistled just wide.
The Royals’ almost grabbed the lead when Meite met Ince’s cross and forced a decent stop from Ben Wilson who tipped it behind for a corner.
Coventry had the final chance of the half when Gyoekres led a powerful counter attack and showed his strength to hold off Amadou Mebengue before sliding the ball to O’Hare who was fouled by Jeff Hendrick.
Hendrick was cautioned but Reading were let off the hook when Gyokeres unleashed an effort that was stopped by the wall as the team’s went in goalless at the break.
Coventry made a fast start in the second-half and hit the upright from a corner. After Lumley tried and failed to claim the inswinging cross, the Royals had a huge let off when Michael Rose’s header was kept out only by the post.
After surviving a few early scares in the half, Reading nudged themselves in front in the 57th minute.
Mbengue was left unmarked in the six yard box with his back to goal and latched on to McIntyre’s knock down to glance in the ball past Wilson via the crossbar to net his Royals goal.
Paul Ince’s double change in the 67th minute saw Mamadou Loum and Shane Long replace Tyrese Fornah and Carroll.
Ince made another switch which saw Naby Sarr and Lucas Joao take the place of Meite and Rahman for the final 15 minutes.
Coventry threw men forward in search of an equaliser but Lumley was on hand to punch away Hamer’s vicious inswinging free-kick with plenty of bodies ready to connect with a loose ball.
Having to hold on to their one goal lead throughout six minutes of added time, the Royals successfully maintained their clean sheet to take three points.
Reading are in league action on Friday night when they travel to the Midlands to face Birmingham City.
Reading: Lumley, Mbengue, Holmes, Yiadom (c), Hoilett, Rahman, Fornah, Hendrick, Ince, Meite, Carroll
Subs: Bouzanis, McIntyre, Long, Joao, Guinness-Walker, Loum, Sarr
Coventry: Wilson, Panzo, Doyle, Rose, Allen (c), O’Hare, Sheaf, Gyokeres, Bidwell, Eccles, Hamer
Subs: Moore, Kelly, Waghorn, Kane, Tavares, Burroughs, Palmer
Goals: Mbengue 57’
