Nelson Oliveira’s 19th-minute goal has given Reading a 1-0 half-time lead over the Blues at Portman Road.
James Collins and Teddy Bishop returned to the Town line-up with Jonas Knudsen suspended and Will Keane injured.
Collins, who had been out for five games with a hamstring problem, returned to the Blues’ defence for Knudsen with manager Paul Lambert, who was serving the second game of his two-match touchline ban, sticking with a three-man backline.
Trevoh Chalobah and Jon Nolan were in deeper midfield roles with Alan Judge and Bishop, who missed the draw at Wigan last Saturday as he had been ill earlier in the week, starting ahead of them behind lone striker Collin Quaner.
Reading fielded the same team which drew 1-1 at home to fellow strugglers Rotherham a week ago.
There was a late change of referee with Geoff Eltringham from County Durham in charge rather than Darren England who was initially slated to cover the fixture.
On 12 Tyler Blackett was yellow-carded for handball then a minute later, much to the delight of the home fans, be-masked on-loan Norwich striker Oliveira joined him in the book for an obvious dive after Bartosz Bialkowski had pulled out of a challenge in the area on the byline as the ball went out of play.
In the 15th minute Jon Nolan sent Quaner away down the right after a Reading attack had broken down. The German was breaking towards goal when the linesman’s flag was raised.
Town looked to be getting up a head of steam but in the 19th minute they went behind. Garath McCleary was sent away behind the Blues’ backline on the left and cut the ball back to Oliveira, who had held his run, and the Portuguese frontman had little problem in finding the net.
Olivera, already booked, celebrated in front of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand and was subsequently spoken to by referee Eltringham but wasn’t shown a further card.
The Royals weren’t far from a second in the 26th minute when one-time Blues trialist John Swift curled a shot wide from distance on the left.
On 32 Swift hit a low shot from the edge of the box which gave Bialkowski no problem, then a minute later Meite’s overhead kick was too close to the Town keeper to trouble him.
Town were seeing a fair amount of the ball but without being able to create a serious chance. On 36 Judge volleyed wide from 25 yards, then a minute later Royals skipper Liam Moore was booked for pulling down Quaner as the striker broke away in the Reading half.
There was a lucky escape for the Blues in the 38th minute when McCleary was sent away down the left into the space behind wing-back James Bree and to the right of skipper Luke Chambers but rather fortunately shot across the face and wide.
The Blues, who had struggled to settle into their system at both ends of the field, were forced into a substitution a minute later when Collins, who had been out for five games prior to the match and who had suffered a heavy late challenge earlier in the match, was replaced by Toto Nsiala.
Reading keeper Emiliano Martinez saved low from Judge on 42, then two minutes later the Blues should have levelled with their best move of the game.
Quaner did well to take down Kenlock’s long ball forward after a Town freekick had been cleared, then burst into the area on the right before cutting across to Bishop, who moved it on to Nolan to his left, but the former Shrewsbury man’s shot was somehow kept out by Martinez.
Town just about bundled a Reading corner from the left wide seconds before referee Eltringham ended two minutes of additional time.
It had been a struttering first-half performance from the Blues who never hit the level of their display prior to the red card at Wigan, although while still having one or two decent moments.
Nolan’s late chance was the best of them and the midfielder will feel he really should have been celebrating his third goal of the season.
Reading had looked the more dangerous side having created the better chances with Town not always appearing comfortable with their system, particularly at the back.
Town, who as scorelines stand at half-time are 12 points plus goal difference from safety, need a big 45 minutes if they’re to claim the victory they desperately need.
Town: Bialkowski, Pennington, Collins (Nsiala 40), Chambers (c), Bree, Chalobah, Kenlock, Nolan, Judge, Bishop, Quaner. Subs: Gerken, Edwards, Skuse, Jackson, Downes, Dozzell.
Reading: Martinez, Yiadom, Miazga, Moore, Blackett, Ejaria, Baker, Meite, Swift, McCleary, Oliveira. Subs: Walker, Gunter, O’Shea, McShane, Harriott, Barrow, Loader. Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham).