Paul Clement’s reign at Reading got off to the perfect start, as Sone Aluko’s first-half strike and a late penalty save by Vito Mannone secured Royals’ first win in 10 games.
Aluko struck home from range to put Reading in front, and Royals defended valiantly thereafter to keep out the onslaught of QPR attacks, with Mannone the hero late on as he kept out Jake Bidwell’s injury-time penalty.
The result lifts Royals up to 19th in the table, but more importantly means they now sit six points above the drop zone with seven games left to play.
Royals made a bright start, with John Swift looking for the run of Dave Edwards but QPR keeper Alex Smithies got there first, only for referee David Coote to blow up for an earlier foul on Swift in the move.
Tyler Blackett also threatened early for the home side, firing wide after being teed up by Aluko.
Royals were rewarded for their pressure on 13 minutes when Aluko skipped past Bidwell and cut inside from the right before rifling a shot into the roof of the net from eighteen yards.
QPR came close to equalising almost immediately, as Conor Washington struck narrowly wide of Mannone’s near post, then Paul Smyth blazed over the bar after Mannone punched Luke Freeman’s free-kick clear.
Rangers continued to press forwards and it took a last-ditch block by Liam Moore to deny Pawel Wszolek’s effort at goal and turn the ball out for a QPR corner. Freeman also had a shot blocked, by Royals skipper Chris Gunter as QPR continued to assert their authority on the game.
Reading looked to catch Rangers on the break and came close as Modou Barrow raced over the halfway line, but Nedum Onuoha recovered his position well before the Royals winger could produce a shot at goal.
With half-time nearing, Joel Lynch fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but no QPR player was there to meet the delivery and turn the ball in.
QPR then thought they had equalised, as Lynch diverted a long shot into the Reading goal, but he was standing in an offside position and the goal was ruled out.
Wszolek threatened again for Rangers, with the Polish midfielder lashing an attempt over from the right, to leave Reading in front at the break.
As in the first, Royals got off to a good start in the second half, with Swift pinching the ball in midfield, before driving towards goal and laying off Chris Martin, but his cross was easily cut out by the QPR defence.
At the other end, Mannone dived bravely to deny Washington from stabbing home after Smyth had flicked on Furlong’s cross.
Reading came close to doubling their lead when a Swift cross was headed just wide of the Rangers post by a QPR defender. From the resulting corner, Bidwell did well to nudge the ball away from Tyler Blackett, who was looking to force the ball home at the back post.
Substitute Matt Smith came close for Rangers, rising well to attack a hanging cross, but heading just wide.
QPR kept pressing for a leveller and would have squared the scores but for a fantastic Mannone save. The Royals keeper reacted brilliantly to tip Smyth’s attempt over the bar, after the Rangers forward demonstrated impressive skill and pace to find space for a shot at goal.
The visitors came close again when Dave Edwards was dispossessed by Eberechi Eze, who took aim from 20 yards, but fired wide.
Royals were reduced to ten men with eleven minutes to go, as substitute Yann Kermorgant was dismissed for a second yellow, after bringing down Furlong.
There was more late drama when Edwards brought down Wszolek inside the area, as the game entered five minutes of injury time. However, Mannone guessed right and denied Bidwell, much to the delight of the home fans, and Royals held on for the remaining minutes to secure the vital three points.
READING: Mannone; Gunter (c), Ilori, Moore, Blackett; van den Berg (Bacuna 55); Aluko, Edwards, Swift (Evans 84), Barrow; Martin (Kermorgant 62).
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Holmes, Clement, S. Smith.
Goal: Aluko (13)
Yellow cards: Martin (21), Kermorgant x2 (70,81), Aluko (90+3)
Red card: Kermorgant (81)
QPR: Smithies; Furlong, Onuoha (c), Lynch, Bidwell; Cousins (Luongo 74), Scowen; Smyth (Eze 74), Freeman, Wszolek; Washington (M. Smith 58).
Subs not used: Ingram, Manning, Robinson, Sylla.
Yellow cards: Bidwell (57), Freeman (69), Lynch (82)
Referee: David Coote
Attendance: 20,273 (inc. 3,243 away)
