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Reading’s winless run extended to six matches as they were beaten 2-0 by rock-bottom Birmingham City at Madejski Stadium.
The Blues came to Berkshire with no victory on the road all season, losing nine of their 12 games, but they made the most of their chances with a goal in each half from Jacques Maghoma and Sam Gallagher enough for victory.
REACTION: Jaap Stam admits players are lacking confidence
The defeat heaps more pressure on boss Jaap Stam with the Royals worrying slide now taking them to within four points of the Championship’s relegation zone.
Stam made three changes to the side pegged back late on against Barnsley last time out,
most notably a first league start since August for Pelle Clement. Sone Aluko and Leandro Bacuna also came back in with Dave Edwards, Garath McCleary and Tyler Blackett dropping out.
Reading made a lively start against the league’s bottom side with a cross from Aluko scuffed by both Mo Barrow and Yann Kermorgant from good positions before Barrow then saw an effort saved by the legs of David Stockdale.
Birmingham were carrying little threat, but did force a smart block from John Swift on the edge of the box to deny Craig Gardner’s fierce effort.
Chris Gunter was next to try his luck with his rising drive tipped over by Stockdale.
But Royals’ promising start proved to be in vain as the Blues took the lead on 24 minutes. Gardner fizzed in a free-kick from out wide which Reading could not clear and the loose ball was slammed high into the net by Maghoma.
The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts with Vito Mannone on hand to make a big save to deny Sam Gallagher one-on-one.
Reading regrouped and ended the half as they started it, on the front foot, with Bacuna
spraying a ball out for Gunter, who headed it back across goal. Aluko showed good feet to work half a yard of space from close range, but his shot was saved.
After being booed off at the break, Stam made a change with Blackett introduced in place of Joey van den Berg, slotting in at left-back with Bacuna pushed into midfield.
But the change did not have the desired effect with the next chance not arriving until the hour mark when Kermorgant acrobatically shot just past the post.
And things went from bad to worse when Birmingham doubled their lead shortly afterwards as they robbed Swift of possession and played in Gallagher to tuck past Mannone.
Stam threw on McCleary and Liam Kelly to try and find a way back into the game, but they could not mount an unlikely comeback with Kermorgant’s deflected effort striking the crossbar late on and the boos once again rang around the ground at the final whistle.
Reading stay 18th with a trip to Stevenage in the FA Cup to come next on Saturday.
READING: Mannone; Gunter, McShane (c), Moore, Bacuna; van den Berg (Blackett 45), Clement (Kelly 73), Swift; Aluko (McCleary 66), Barrow, Kermorgant.
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Ilori, Evans, Bodvarsson.
Yellow card: Swift (85)
BIRMINGHAM: Stockdale; Colin, Roberts, Dean, Grounds; Gardner (N’Doye 86), Kieftenbeld; Maghoma (Nsue 72), Davis, Boga; Gallagher (Adams 90+1).
Subs not used: Trueman, Morrison, Jota, Jutkiewicz.
Goals: Maghoma (24), Gallagher (64)
Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 14,491 (inc. 1,135 away)
