YANN KERMORGANT’S brilliant second half free-kick fired Reading back up to third in the Championship with a hard fought 2-1 win over Cardiff City at Madejski Stadium.
Royals broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time when John Swift profited from a brilliant Garath McCleary flick to sweep in, only for a Joe Ralls penalty to level matters before the break.
And while clear cut chances were a premium throughout, Kermorgant took his opportunity with a brilliant free-kick from 20 yards which whistled into the bottom corner.
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Both sides could have added to their tallies with Kermorgant slicing a clearance towards his own goal probably the closest Cardiff came to grabbing a point, but Reading saw out the win to complete a fantastic week.
Jaap Stam made just one change from the side which beat Fulham as Kermorgant replaced Tyler Blackett.
Having named no recognised strikers in midweek, Stam this time opted for no natural left-backs with Blackett alongside the returning Jordan Obita on the bench while Chris Gunter switched across to the left and McCleary filled in on the right. New signing Tiago Ilori missed out on the squad altogether.
Royals struggled to get their passing game going during the early stages but did muster a couple of shots from outside the box with Liam Kelly and McCleary trying their luck.
Danny Williams was the next man in a blue and white shirt to get into a good position but he fluffed his lines from 10 yards after being teed up by McCleary in the best chance of the early stages.
Cardiff were not without threat and almost broke the deadlock when Ralls unleashed a fierce low effort from 22 yards but his effort pinged off the foot of the post and away to safety.
Royals were forced into their first substitution of the afternoon on 40 minutes when Joey van den Berg went down clutching his hamstring with Blackett brought on.
And the home fans’ frustrations were eased three minutes before the break as Swift put Reading ahead. Williams let fly from just outside the box and although his shot was smartly saved by Allan McGregor, McCleary reacted quickest and brilliantly flicked the ball into the path of Swift to guide it into the bottom corner.
But back came Cardiff, ensuring the first half did end level. A measured ball into the box was aimed towards former Royal Sean Morrison and Liam Moore was adjudged to have brought him down by referee Tony Harrington, who pointed to the spot.
Penalty hero on Tuesday night Ali Al-Habsi dived the right way again but Ralls squeezed the spot-kick underneath him to equalise.
Junior Hoilett had the first chance of the second period as Cardiff appeared buoyed by their equaliser, but the former Blackburn Rovers man was denied by Al-Habsi.
Stam made his second switch just 10 minutes after the restart with George Evans coming on to replace scorer Swift and just a few minutes later Reading were again ahead.
A needless foul from Bamba on Kermorgant on the edge of the box allowed the Frenchman the chance to step up from the resulting free-kick and he expertly whipped the ball into the bottom corner for his second goal against the Bluebirds this season.
And the lead could have been extended if Reading were a bit more clinical in front of goal with McCleary releasing Kermorgant, who rounded McGregor but couldn’t get the shot away before Kelly led a breakaway which was not converted.
At the other end Al-Habsi had to be alert to flick Hoilett’s free-kick over the bar before Kermorgant almost went from hero to zero as he sliced a Ralls corner towards his own goal, but Al-Habsi made the flying save.
Cardiff enjoyed some late pressure but without really testing Al-Habsi with young striker Rhys Healey firing over in stoppage time.
The win lifts Reading back up to third in the Championship, six points off the top two.
READING (ratings out of 10): Al-Habsi 7.5; McCleary 8.5*, McShane (c) 8, Moore 7, van den Berg 7 (Blackett 40 6.5), Gunter 6.5; Kelly 7.5, Williams 7, Swift 7.5 (Evans 55 6.5); Beerens 6 (Obita 76 n/a), Kermorgant 8.
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Meite, Samuel, Mendes.
Goals: Swift (42), Kermorgant (59)
Yellow card: Moore (45)
CARDIFF: McGregor; Peltier, Halford (Kennedy 76), Morrison (c), Bamba, Richards; Gunnarsson, Hoilett, Ralls (Whittingham 89); Healey, Zohore (Harris 66).
Subs not used: Murphy, John, Connolly, Noone.
Goal: Ralls (pen) (45+1)
Yellow card: Bamba (8)
Referee: Tony Harrington
Attendance: 18,558 (inc. 2,348 away)
