MODOU BARROW’S first goal for the Royals along with a deflected Adrian Popa cross handed Reading their first league win of the season, despite a late Villa fightback.
Barrow smashed home from close range after Liam Moore played the former Swansea-man in to open his account for Royals after Popa’s delivery had bounced off sorry Villa midfielder Glenn Whelan, past keeper Sam Johnstone and into the net to break the deadlock.
Villa pulled one back late on through Conor Hourihane, who struck in from close range to set up a tense finish but Royals held on to secure the win and move up to 13th in the Championship table after three games.
With both sides looking for their first league win, Villa were gifted an early chance as Andre Green broke through one-on-one after the ball deflected into the forward’s path, but Vito Mannone did well, reacting quickly to get down and make the stop.
Royals again enjoyed long spells of possession early on and their pressure almost paid off when Barrow and Chris Gunter exchanged passes before laying off John Swift who curled it just past the far post. Moments later Barrow played in a delightful cross looking for Swift but Neil Taylor nicked the ball away and out for a Reading corner.
Skipper Paul McShane then squandered a free header from one of a series of corners from the right boot of Liam Kelly as Reading probed for the opening goal.
Villa boss Steve Bruce was forced to make an early change, replacing the hobbling Scott Hogan with striker Gabriel Agbonlahor who nearly made an instant impact, being played through by Birkir Bjarnason but the linesman flagged the sub up as being offside.
At the other end, speedy Romanian Popa was denied twice within a minute by Villa keeper Sam Johnstone. The Royals winger leathered it goalbound from the edge of the area after Gunter’s cutback before skipping inside a Villa defender and firing a low shot which Johnstone saved with an outstretched leg.
Barrow also missed with another effort for Reading which was sweetly struck, but sprayed wide from range before Popa was denied for a third time in the last kick of the half to leave the score line goalless going into the break.
Royals made a lively start to the second period with Kelly shooting narrowly wide and it did not take long for the home side to move in front.
Popa crossed the ball in and unfortunately for Villa, the ball deflected off Whelan and bounced off the post and in. For the first time at the Madejski Stadium, goal-line technology had to be deployed to clarify that despite Johnstone’s efforts, the ball did in fact cross the line.
Royals pushed for another and Kelly’s drilled cross from the right nearly crept in at Johnstone’s near post, but he parried it out for a corner.
Reading did double their lead shortly after, when the ball would not drop for Swift and the Royals playmaker threaded the ball instead to Moore, and the Royals defender crossed in low to Barrow who bundled in from close range for his first goal for the club.
Popa could have killed the game after Swift ran through the Villa midfield, but he could only find the side netting. Green then shot from 20 yards in a rare Villa threat at the Reading goal but his effort was straight at Mannone who did well to hold on.
Villa looked to pull one back through Hourihane’s dangerous looking delivery from a free-kick, but McShane cleared with a diving header before Tyler Blackett intercepted Bjarnason who was looking to pounce on Agbonlahor’s layoff.
There was to be late drama as Villa pulled one back in the 87th minute through Hourihane, on the half-volley after the ball fell kindly for him. Yet Royals defended a free-kick from just outside the box in one of four stoppage time minutes to hold out for all three points.
Next up for Jaap Stam’s men is a trip to Deepdale to take on Preston North End on Saturday.
READING: Mannone; Gunter, McShane (c), Moore, Blackett; van den Berg (Evans 70), Kelly, Swift; Barrow (Beerens 77), Popa (McCleary 70), Clement.
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Ilori, Bacuna, Mendes.
Goals: Whelan (OG) (49), Barrow (56)
Yellow cards: Moore (36), McCleary (90)
ASTON VILLA: Johnstone; De Laet (Hutton 63), Chester, Terry, Taylor; Bjarnason, Whelan, Hourihane, Green; Onomah (Adomah 77), Hogan (Agbonlahor 29).
Subs not used: Steer, Samba, Bree, Lansbury.
Goal: Hourihane (87)
Yellow cards: Green (27), Hourihane (37)
Referee: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 20,144 (inc. 3,935 away)
