Reading 2-1 Birmingham City: Joao and Swift net to give Ince winning start

READING FC made a winning start under interim boss Paul Ince with goals from Lucas Joao and John Swift to give them victory over Birmingham City.

Joao picked out the bottom corner to open the scoring in the 67th minute and Swift added a second not long after from the penalty spot.

The Blues set up a nail-biting finish when they scored in the 83rd minute, but the Royals held on to claim three points.

The result sees Reading win their first match at home since October as they made it back-to-back wins in the Championship.

Reading v Birmingham City Pictures: Steve Smyth

The Royals are now eight points above the drop zone having played one game more than Derby County and two more than Peterborough United.

In for his first game in charge as interim manager, Paul Ince made one change from Reading’s 3-2 win at Preston North End.

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Tom McIntyre returned to the starting line-up to replace the injured Baba Rahman, while the new manager also included his son, Tom Ince, in the first eleven.

The Royals went into the game five points clear of the Championship relegation zone after their success at the weekend which broke a run of eight defeats in a row.

Unlike events off the pitch at the Berkshire club in the last few weeks, it was a quiet opening to the match at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

The first half 20 of the game passed by with no clear-cut chances created by either side despite the hosts enjoying more of the ball.

The first chance of note came the way of the visitors when Lyle Taylor looked to exploit a gap in the middle of the defence and was played through by Jordan James, he opted to take his shot early but Karl Hein got down low to make a comfortable save.

An imposing run from Junior Hoilett gave Reading hope when he sprung forward, travelled 40 yards and was then fouled, which gave the home team a free-kick in a promising position.

Top scorer John Swift eyed up the shot at goal but got too much power and height on his effort that flew over.

Lee Bowyer’s side threatened when Jeremie Bela fizzed a dangerous ball across the face of goal that just evaded Taylor’s stretched right boot.

They maintained the pressure when Onel Hernandez also played an inviting ball into the box, before Bela tried his luck from distance with a fierce effort that had Hein scrambling but arrowed just over the target.

Reading created their best chance of the half moments later when Tom Ince had the chance to mark his father’s first game in charge with the opening goal when he arrived to meet Hoilett’s excellent cross, but his first time connection went over the top.

The half came to a close with neither side breaking the deadlock with more openings for the away team.

The Blues started the stronger of the two teams after the restart and worked a chance in the 53rd minute when James drilled a low shot at goal that was smartly stopped by Hein.

Taylor then went close for the visitors moments after when he tried to pick out the far corner with but missed by just a few inches.

Kristian Pedersen could count himself fortunate to have avoided a second yellow card when he prevented Lucas Joao from breaking through.

There was action in both boxes from Tom Ince who tracked back to make a vital interception in his own box before his team broke forward in a move that ended with his deflected shot being caught by Etheridge.

The deadlock was broken in the 67th minute when Joao picked up the ball outside the area, worked some space for a shot and clipped a pinpoint effort past Etheridge and inside the post which nestled into the bottom right corner.

It took just five more minutes for Reading to double their lead when they were awarded a penalty.

Andy Yiadom was tripped in the box after making a penetrating run down the right.

Swift took the spot-kick and confidently dispatched it into the right corner to net his 11th Championship goal of the season.

Hernandez used his quick feet to find space in the box but again was thwarted by a strong save from Hein.

Birmingham set up a nervy final 10 minutes to the match when they clawed back a goal in the 82nd minute.

Hein turned the ball onto the post but the rebound took an unfortunate deflection off McIntyre to find its way into the net.

The tension began to build around the SCL when Taylor went through and chipped the ball over Hein, but his shot which was travelling wide of the post was hacked away by Yiadom.