READING FC started life in League One with defeat as Ephron Mason-Clark scored the only goal of the game to give Peterborough United victory on the opening day.
Playing in their first third tier match for more than two decades, Ruben Selles started his reign as Reading manager with a loss.
The Royals are currently on the longest losing run in the EFL (14 games) having not won a match since February.
There were places in the starting eleven for new signings Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs as Ruben Selles named his team for the opening day of the League One season.
Academy graduate Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan started up top alongside Andy Carroll, while Sam Hutchinson recovered from injury in time to win a place in the line-up.
New additions Lewis Wing and Tivonge Rushesha both featured on the bench.
The Royals were seeking to end a miserable run which has seen them go 13 games without a win, the longest winless run in the entire EFL, dating back to February.
The game got off to a lively start with the home crowd poised for a positive afternoon.
The crowd sent up a huge cheer as Reading’s aggressive press forced Peterborough into a sloppy pass at the back which led to a corner.
A deep delivery from Savage was met by Carroll whose volley was blocked.
The first yellow of the game, after eight minutes, went to Peter Kioso who hauled down Knibbs on the touchline.
Andy Yiadom slid a pinpoint pass into the path of Ehibhatiomhan and with a tough angle against him he managed to test Nicholas Bilokapic in the Peterborough goal.
The visitors replied with a chance of their own as Royals skipper Yiadom was robbed of possession before Joel Randall blasted the ball over the top.
Femi Azeez tried to make his pace count on the right as he stormed down the wing and fired a cross in for Ehibhatiomhan. The forward brought the ball down neatly but was kept out by the keeper.
There were two bookings in quick succession for Reading as Azeez and Hutchinson were both carded.
Royals keeper Dean Bozuanis came up with an outstanding save to prevent the away side from going in front as he got fingertips to Ephron Mason-Calrk’s curling effort which looked destined for the top corner.
Ruben Selles was next to be cautioned by the referee after he asked for a booking following a perceived foul on Azeez which was missed by the official.
The Posh took the lead a couple of minutes before the bream as a cross to the back post was met by Mason-Clark who looped a header over Bouzanis into the far corner.
The second-half started with another booking as Savage was cautioned for a slightly mistimed challenge.
With an hour played, Selles made his first personnel switches as Amadou Mbengue and Lewis Wing replaced Yiadom and Ehibhatiomhan.
The changes saw Azeez join Carroll up top, while Knibbs was deployed on the right and Wing on the left in a 4-2-2-2.
Wing made an instant impact as he played a through ball to Azeez in the box, but the forward couldn’t find room to get his shot away before the ball ricocheted for Wing to hit and win a corner.
Guinness-Walker showed an excellent turn of pace to beat his man on the wing and fired a cross into the box with nobody there to apply a finish.
The next change saw young midfielder Tivonge Rushesha take the place of Hutchinson for the final 20 minutes with Reading still searching for a leveller.
The away team had a chance to make it two when Hector Kyprianou tried to pick out the top corner with a fierce effort that flew just wide.
Selles made his final two changes with 13 minutes left on the clock as Caylan Vickers and Mamadi Camara replaced Knibbs and Azeez.
Reading came close when Mbengue’s cross was swung to the back post, put back in by Guinness-Walker to find Carroll but his shot from close range hit a Peterborough body.
Vickers tried to make his mark when he drove positively from the left and unleashed a shot towards goal that was blocked.
With eight minutes added on, Reading pushed to try and get a point but weren’t able to breach the Peterborough defence.
Next up for the Royals is a trip to Championship side Millwall in the EFL Cup on Tuesday before an away league match against Port Vale next Saturday.
Reading: Bouzanis, Yiadom (c), Holmes, McIntyre, Guinness-Walker, Savage, Hutchinson, Azeez, Knibbs, Ehibhatiomhan, Carroll
Subs: Boyce-Clarke, Mbengue, Camara, Carson, Wing, Rushesha, Vickers
Peterborough: Bilokapic, Burrows, Edwards, Crichlow, Clarke-Harris, Mason-Clark, Poku, Bandall, Kyprianou, Collins, Kioso
Subs: Blackmore, Knight, Fuchs, Ajiboye, Jones, Tshimanga, Tomlinson
Goals: Mason-Clark 43’
