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Reading FC succumbed to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to managerless West Brom at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Two goals either side of half time sealed the Royals’ fate in what was only their second home league defeat of the season.
Matt Phillips’s 25th minute strike put the Baggies ahead, having started the stronger of the two sides.
A poor showing from the Royals was compounded by Taylor Gardner-Hickman, who capitalised on a Jeff Hendrick error in the second half.
Both sides were without their manager from the previous gameweek; the Baggies parted company with Steve Bruce on Monday, while illness saw Paul Ince direct his troops over the phone.
Richard Beale was appointed interim boss, while Alex Rae stepped in for Reading to actualise Ince’s tactics from the touchline.
Talks of ill-health within the dressing room were confirmed as Joe Lumley failed to make the matchday squad.
Dean Bouzanis returned to the starting eleven, as did Junior Hoilett and Tom Ince, while Shane Long made his long-awaited return to the bench.
West Brom started the game in the relegation zone after registering only one win in 13 matches, but came out the more positive side.
A blocked Brandon Thomas-Asante effort was swiftly followed by a Phillips strike from outside the box, which only just flew over the crossbar.
The away side continued to apply pressure, with Conor Townsend playing a neat ball into Thomas-Asante inside the Reading box. Tom Holmes did well to block the forward’s shot, which deflected behind for a corner.
Tom Ince’s eagerness to get his team going saw the midfielder pick up an early caution for a rash tackle.
Reading were punished for their passive start midway through the first half as Phillips broke the deadlock for the away side. West Brom’s number 10 picked up the ball on West Brom’s right, jinked past Guinness-Walker, before side-footing past Bouzanis.
Going behind seemed to galvanise the Royals somewhat, almost restoring parity moments later. Hoilett did well to beat his marker on the right before finding Joao at the near post, but the Angolan could only glance wide.
The Royals felt they should have been awarded a spot-kick in the 33rd minute after Andy Carroll was bundled over in the box by a combination of Martin Kelly and keeper Alex Palmer.
The appeal was dismissed by the referee and West Brom broke down Reading’s right. Although Thomas-Asante could only drag his effort wide, the move saw Mamadou Loum earn a booking for his attempt to stop the counter.
The Baggies adopted a progressively deeper block, seemingly content to protect their one-goal advantage through to the interval.
The first chance of the second half fell to West Brom, who were presented with a golden chance to double their lead.
Jed Wallace won possession in an advanced position before crossing into an unmarked Diangana, who appeared to have the goal at his mercy. Yiadom was able to do enough to put the winger off, whose eventual shot was blocked by McIntyre.
Reading fans in the Eamonn Dolan stand thought the Scot had earned a free-kick moments later, but the referee deemed the contact from the Baggies’ defender insignificant, booking McIntyre for simulation instead.
Paul Ince’s men looked bereaved of ideas and fell further behind on the 72nd minute. Jeff Hendrick relinquished possession to Taylor Gardner-Hickham, who drove forward before firing into the bottom left corner.
The Irishman almost made amends straight away. Palmer could only palm a long-range Mamadou Loum effort into the path of Joao, whose mishit strike fell to Hendrick, but he could only fire wide.
With Reading knocking on the door in the final ten minutes, the Albion stopper made a string of reflex saves, denying Meite, Loum and Ince in quick succession.
Hoilett looked to have grabbed a consolation goal for the Royals late on after a cross into Joao fell into his path. Palmer was however on hand once again to keep his side’s clean sheet intact.
Reading head to Wales on Tuesday to take on Swansea.
READING: Bouzanis, Hoilett, Holmes, McIntyre, Yiadom (c), Guinness-Walker, Loum, Ince, Hendrick, Carroll, Lucas Joao
Subs: Boyce-Clarke, Long, Meite, Fornah, Mbengue, Abbey, Senga
WEST BROM: Palmer, Townsend, O’Shea, Livermore, Phillips, Diangana, Pieters, Kelly, Wallace, Thomas-Asante, Gardner-Hickman
Subs: Button, Furlong, Molumby, Grant, Swift, Cleary, Yokuslu
Goals: Phillips 25’, Gardner-Hickman 72’
