Reading slumped to their 13th league defeat of the season thanks to Lasse Vibe’s strike 16 minutes from time for Brentford to increase the pressure on manager Jaap Stam and add to his side’s relegation fears.
Vibe struck in the rebound after Florian Jozefzoon had seen his shot saved by Vito Mannone in the Reading goal. Bees punished Reading’s wastefulness as just seconds earlier Modou Barrow had time and space in front of goal to put the home side ahead and Liam Kelly had struck the woodwork from a set piece earlier on.
The result leaves Royals in 18th place, without a league win since early December, and now lie only four points outside of the relegation zone, while Brentford moved up to ninth, only three points outside of the play-off places.
Reading looked a threat early on, with Sone Aluko and Modou Barrow linking up down the right to feed the ball into Tuesday night’s hat-trick hero Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, but the Icelandic forward saw his shot blocked by the recovering Romaine Sawyers.
Visitors Brentford were then very unfortunate not to take the lead themselves through Vibe, whose attempt from close range was denied by Mannone before Ollie Watkins was kept out by Royals skipper Chris Gunter on the rebound.
Gunter was involved again as his in-swinging cross into the path of Kelly looked promising, however the young Irishman was caught in two minds, pulling out of the first time volley, much to the frustration of the home fans.
Bees came close again to breaking the deadlock from a free-kick, which was sweetly-struck by Yoann Barbet, a Royals transfer target, but his attempt dipped just over the bar.
Sawyers was then fouled in a similar position but this time Jozefzoon struck harmlessly wide.
A tight offside ruling against Kelly prevented Barrow from having a clear run at goal after Aluko had started the move with a fine pass as half time drew near.
Kelly’s cross from the left then deflected towards Bodvarsson who controlled well in the air before swivelling and firing a volley at goal which Daniel Bentley saved at head height between the Bees posts.
Bees striker Watkins flashed the ball across the face of goal in the closing moments of the first period, but thankfully for Royals the sliding Jozefzoon was unable to turn it in at the back post to leave the game goalless at the break.
Stam opted to replace Omar Richards with Tyler Blackett at half-time and Blackett came to the Royals’ rescue just two minutes after the restart, clearing Jozefzoon’s close-range effort off the line as Brentford seemed certain to score following Vibe’s cutback.
Some patient build-up from Bees eventually saw the ball worked out to Sawyers who drilled his shot wide from 20 yards.
Down the other end, Chris Gunter got down the right before whipping in a delivery intended for Kelly, but Bees keeper Bentley raced out to smother the ball before he could pounce.
George Evans then picked out Gunter on the right and the Welshman threaded it through to Bodvarsson who shot narrowly wide beyond the far post as Reading looked to exert more pressure on the Brentford backline.
Shortly after Bodvarsson was felled as he charged forward on a solo run just outside the box. Kelly stepped up and smashed the free-kick against the crossbar, and out for a goal kick – it was a close as either side had come to a goal.
Brentford sub Sergi Canos made himself busy after coming on, twice seeing his efforts blocked by Gunter and Tiago Ilori.
Vibe saw Mannone off his line and tried his luck a very speculative long-range attempt from way out on the right, but his effort flew over the bar.
Barrow then found himself with lots of time and space in the Brentford box but delayed taking his shot to allow the Bees defence to surround him and block away his strike.
Royals were punished for squandering the chance almost immediately, as Brentford countered at pace and after Jozefzoon was denied by Mannone, Vibe kept his composure to sweep the rebound home past Gunter and Mannone on the line and into the net.
Mannone’s strong palm away prevented Brentford from doubling their lead straight away when the ball broke to Kamohelo Mokotjo on the edge of the area.
As the game ticked into the final ten, Barrow saw his shot blocked by Bentley after Yann Kermorgant’s initial attempt deflected kindly into his path.
Kermorgant was denied again as a corner by Kelly was flicked goalwards by the veteran French striker, but Barbet was there on the line to nod the ball out to safety.
Royals continued to look for an equaliser with Mannone coming up for a final corner, but the visitors held out for all three points.
READING: Mannone; Gunter (c), Ilori, Moore, Richards (Blackett 45); Evans, van den Berg (Kermorgant 77); Aluko (Beerens 60), Kelly, Barrow; Bodvarsson.
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Edwards, Clement, McCleary.
Yellow cards: van den Berg (10), Gunter (45+1)
BRENTFORD: Bentley; Yennaris (c), Mepham, Bjelland, Barbet; Woods, Mokotjo, Sawyers; Jozefzoon (McLeod 87), Watkins (Canos 65), Vibe.
Subs not used: Daniels, Marcondes, Clarke, McEachran, Maupay.
Goal: Vibe (74)
Yellow cards: Watkins (60), Woods (83), Bjelland (85), Canos (86)
Referee: Darren Bond
Attendance: 17,893 (inc. 2,866 away)
