Reading midfielder Jake Taylor’s first-half goal was enough to see his side to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at the Madejski Stadium. Taylor seized on a David McGoldrick error in the 26th minute, with Tyrone Mings going closest for Town when he hit the bar with a header in injury time.

Striker McGoldrick returned to the Town starting line-up for the first time in six months in place of Balint Bajner, but manager Mick McCarthy otherwise named the same team which beat Fulham last week.

Reading created the game’s first opening within seconds of the start when Simon Cox, a recent signing from Nottingham Forest, got the better of Tommy Smith inside the area on the right, but Dean Gerken blocked his shot from a tight angle.

After the early scare Town, wearing their new orange away kit, started to get on top and went close in the eighth minute from a Jay Tabb corner on the left.

Smith failed to make proper contact but his header diverted the ball to Christophe Berra at the far post, the Scot nodding it back across towards McGoldrick. The ball was stabbed out to Luke Chambers on the edge of the six-yard box and somehow Reading bundled his shot over the bar as McGoldrick attempted an overhead kick to help it on its way.

Murphy shot wide soon after but as the game moved towards the 20-minute mark the home side began to have more of the ball in Town’s half, albeit without creating an opportunity.

But on 25 Royals midfielder Taylor saw a shot deflect wide after a strong run from Pavel Pogrebnyak and good work in the area from Cox.

And from the resultant corner, the home side went in front. The ball was initially cleared but was subsequently returned to the far post from the right. McGoldrick nodded back towards Gerken but without enough power and Taylor nipped in to flick the ball past the keeper and into the net.

McGoldrick went close to atoning for his error in the 33rd minute when he did well to find himself space and cross towards Tabb, but Chris Gunter intercepted.

Berra got his name in referee Simon Hooper’s book for a foul on Jordan Obita not far outside the area in the 40th minute, the Reading man having been looking to feed Taylor to his left. Pogrebnyak slammed the resultant freekick into the Town wall.

Daryl Murphy nodded a Tabb freekick straight at Reading keeper Adam Federici in the penultimate scheduled minute of the half and neither side threatened during two minutes of additional time.

The half-time scoreline was perhaps a little harsh on the Blues, who had been on top for a long period and ought to have gone in front in the scramble following Tabb’s corner, while the home side hadn't looked particularly dangerous.

Reading’s goal was a very preventable one from Town’s perspective with McGoldrick’s safest option to nod the ball behind rather than back towards his keeper.

Nevertheless, Taylor read his intentions and made the most of his opportunity. Having gone behind, the Blues rarely threatened to get back on terms in the remaining minutes of the half.

Manager Mick McCarthy switched Hewitt for Paul Anderson on the right of midfield ahead of the start of the second period.

And it was sub Anderson who created the second half’s first serious chance in the 54th minute when he brought the ball forward from deep inside his own half before crossing from the left towards McGoldrick at the far post, but a defender got in front of him to nod behind.

Town continued to press and two minutes later McGoldrick played Tabb into a good position on the left but Reading managed to clear the danger.

Tyrone Mings and Reading’s Cox were both booked in the 59th minute after the Blues left-back reacted angrily and shoved over the striker after he had appeared to kick a grounded Hyam after fouling him.

Town should have got back on terms from the resultant freekick. Smith nodded Tabb’s ball down to Murphy, who stabbed wide as Federici advanced. The striker clearly felt he should have done better.

Within a minute the Blues had another good opportunity when McGoldrick was sent through by Anderson but Michael Hector got back to divert his shot at goal wide.

McGoldrick made way after 69 minutes with Conor Sammon, who joined on loan from Derby yesterday, taking over and making his Town debut.

The Blues hadn’t really added to their chances in the period up to the hour mark with Reading starting to look more of a danger, although without troubling Gerken, one deep freekick missed by the keeper aside. On 73 Smith was booked for a foul on Pogrebnyak.

With nine minutes left Sammon skipped away from Hector 10 yards outside the area but was blocked by the Reading man, who joined the increasingly lengthy list of names in referee Hooper’s book. Skuse lashed the freekick into the Royals’ wall. Bajner replaced Tabb for the final seven minutes.

Town came close in the 87th minute when Bajner appeared to get a flick on to a long throw from the left, Federici making a desperate dive to claim the ball. Moments later, Reading scorer Taylor was replaced by debutant Jack Stacey.

In the first minute of injury time the Blues came within inches of levelling. Anderson sent over a corner from the right and Mings crashed a header against the bar with Shaun Cummings having got in a vital touch. The loose ball fell to Smith, but the defender smashed his shot into the Town supporters behind the goal.

Reading threatened to score a second moments before the final whistle, Pogrebnyak breaking quickly with Town camped in the Royals’ half, but Smith got back to dispossess him.

The Blues probably deserved something from the game having had a decent spell in the first half and then several opportunities to get back on terms after the break against a not overly impressive Reading side.

Murphy and McGoldrick will feel they should have done better with their chances, as will Smith in injury time, while Mings was unfortunate not to claim his first senior goal with his header.

Reading: Federici, Gunter (C), Cummings, Hector, Pearce, Obita, Akpan, Taylor (Stacey 90), Cox (Edwards 67), Blackman (Cooper 81), Pogrebnyak. Unused: McCarthy, Kuhl, Tshibola, Tanner.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Skuse, Hyam, Hewitt (Anderson 46), Tabb (Bajner 83), McGoldrick (Sammon 69), Murphy. Unused: Parr, Bru, Wordsworth, Bialkowski. Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Att: 17,198 (Town: 1,581).

Photo: Action Images

Bluetone added 18:21 - Aug 16 Under McCarthy are a nearly club. Last season we nearly made the play offs We nearly made it to a Cat 1 academy We nearly beat Crawley to go forward in the Capital Cup (strewth!) And this year we will once again nearly make the play offs if we are extremely fortunate.
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runaround added 18:21 - Aug 16 Can only go by radio commentary but sounds as if Reading scored with their only shot on target whilst we missed loads of opportunities. Some could argue this was bad luck but it's 2 matches in a row & a worrying habit. We will not get anywhere till we start making the most if our opportunities as championship matches are won & lost on such fine margins. Also the team line up was quite negative, 5 defenders & 3 defensive midfielders, was hoping for more width this season & hope once Stewart us fit this can be addressed. A win at Brum is now vital to go into Norwich match on a high

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tractorkent added 18:21 - Aug 16 I am fed up with MM, why can't he see what everyone else can see.We need a playmaker. This is why MM will only ever be a championship manager. His team are all based on hard work, i agree this is important but you need someone to control the game in the midfield. To pick out the runs of strikers, to make things happen,a bit of class and flair.Oh well what do i know.? I'm just a fan who loves his club who spends his hard earned money on a season ticket but also hopefully can see what is needed.

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Pip50 added 18:25 - Aug 16 Shrop how can you say that we sell our best player but don't add to the "team" we dominate most of the game but by hoofing it and most of our attempts on target are set pieces. And we let a silly 6 yard goal in. And we average already less than a goal a game. Familiar! Whilst there is support for this dinosaur we are doomed. No idea no plan no progress.
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Keaneish added 18:26 - Aug 16 We're exactly the same as last season. Same strengths, same weaknesses.
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TractorBoy85 added 18:27 - Aug 16 I can't remember how many times last season when we played just as well as our opponents just to lose by the odd goal. I'm not going to start start complaining about any players or moan as we are still only two games in and the championship is a long season. But I can't understand how the club don't see what this team desperately needs. When Williams was on lone last season everyone saw what he brought to the team and how much of a breath of fresh air he was, and I thought that lone would of made te club realise just what we were missing to make us real promotion challengers. But obviously it doesn't seem to be the case. I'm still optimistic however and keeping my hopes but if we don't bring in someone who can be that something we need, I just can't see us getting promoted.

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Lathers added 18:27 - Aug 16 Aaaaarghh! Our away form........ MM has to sort it out NOW! We don't score enough and at best we look to get a 0-0 or a 1-1.
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BasingstokeBranch added 18:30 - Aug 16 We were desperately unlucky today, created few chances but then it was a tight match. The difference between the two teams? They took their one chance, we didn't .
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jas0999 added 18:42 - Aug 16 This was always a tough game, but with their injuries we should have got something. Sounds as though we deserved a point, but unless you put the ball in the net its going to prove difficult. Reality is two away games this week and no goals scored. Just two goals in three games. I said before the season we had a decent defence but failed to see where sufficient goals would come from. This midfield still looks toothless to me and unless we sign an attacking midfield option and a striker known for scoring goals, I still think we will struggle to challenge the top 6. We won't struggle either though. We we a mid table team.

2

Orraman added 18:46 - Aug 16 Small margins. Two games running we have been foiled by the crossbar in added time. We won't see much pretty football this season but in an incredibly tight division we are certainly good enough to hold our own.
2

dreblue added 18:48 - Aug 16 Disappointing result considering Gerken didn't have much to do. End of the day we only had 2 or 3 good chances which we should have scored. Tabb is not the player you need on the pitch when you are losing. He is a small version of Magilton and only looked for a pass backwards. Some guy infront of us thought Tabb was our best player and thought Skuse was our worst player. (He must have watched the wrong game or his glasses are not the right prescription) I think today was a clear indication that we need a Williams like player in our team. Shame we lost but we should have got something out of it. Bring on next weekend.

3

ShropshireBluenago09 added 18:57 - Aug 16 Pip - Cresswell was not our best player by a long shot. We got good money for him as he was under contract and he is still young. Mings is a better prospect IMO. We lost 1-0 - small margins.
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TimmyH added 19:37 - Aug 16 @Shropshire - yes but it's 'small margins' on the other side of the coin too, when we win it is generally by small margins (as per last weekend) we very rarely turn over a team and play well for a full 90 minutes. This division as we all know is tight and fighting for a play-off place can either be gained or lost by small margins. If we had not dropped so many home points to struggling teams and had to wait til' November for our first away win we probably made the play-offs fairly comfortably. The fact is the squad IS no stronger at this current time than last season, you just have to see the ins and outs and compare the quality that has gone and what has come in. Still 2 players at least short and I honestly believe they have to be quality if we are to improve on last season.

2

bluebrian added 19:45 - Aug 16 Was at the game and one positive for me was the performance of Tyrone Mings. Thought he was tremendous defensively and going forward.
5

battyblue added 20:07 - Aug 16 Same old mostly restricted to long shots as usual we will not win many with this approach for the goal if mcgoldrick was on the halfway line where a striker should be waiting for a counter attack not heading back to Gerken doing the dirty stuff as Mick puts it we would not have conceded would we,,, so why is Marriott out of the squad to accommodate Micks Cr-p signings rather than give our own a chance. As things are this is around where we will finish in the table mark my words.

5

wessextractorboy added 20:07 - Aug 16 Thought Sammond was effective when he came on. He looked a solid target man. Mings scares me as he seemed weak on the left. For a big physical side we failed to win many headers. If McGoldrick went down in the box in the second half, the ref would have given a penalty. But he managed to regain his balance. Something is definately missing somewhere??
0

Kirbmeister added 20:10 - Aug 16 We're streets away from being a top 6 club. Hate to admit it but we are mid table and that is where we will finish.
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stoofer added 21:45 - Aug 16 Goals pay the rent mick !
4

Letchworth_Blue added 22:45 - Aug 16 In the words of my 10 year old son........ "We didnt put them under any pressure in the first half. We just sat back and let them come at us. We did better in the second half , we let them off and they were lucky. Anderson should start the next game " I ain't gonna argue with anything said to be fair. Our midfield played too deep AGAIN, especially in the first half. It all felt a little bit like same old same old. Onward to Brum.

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northernblues added 23:18 - Aug 16 Oldegold my thoughts entirely!
2

algarvefan added 00:45 - Aug 17 It's only game 2 and yes nothing much has changed as the players are mostly still the same. Hard work and consistency are the keys to a good season, I don't think until around game 8 to 10 you will have any idea how our season will go. Early days, keep the faith and keep behind the lads. We have what we have and there won't be much more this season. Players need the support so lets keep giving it to them!!

4

runningout added 08:57 - Aug 17 is it going to be the case of too many winnable games thrown away again, due to naivety and being as clinical as my gran........... and she's passed away
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:06 - Aug 17 I'm quite sure Mick realises more than the rest of us that what he needs is the kind of striker who can put chances away, but he has to work with what he's got/what he's been given. To those of you who claim MM doesn't know what he's doing - Just who do you suggest he brings in on a free to fill this role? Seems pretty likely to me that this kind of player has been/will be snapped up by clubs who are able or willing to spend. So we are left to wheel and deal as best we can. For now, I think we are looking pretty positive in our approach on the whole given the set of cards we've been dealt. We also need a bit of luck.

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essexboy added 09:30 - Aug 17 Apart from Hewitt the team I thought played very well and were unlucky to come away with nothing.We really need a midfield General and I see in the Sunday press we have Jack Collison about to sign and also Nouble is up for transfer (about time).He really has not been good enough.Nice Lad,that's about it.Roll on Tuesday night.COYB
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ChrisFelix added 11:47 - Aug 17 Always try & take in what is my nearest Championship ground.Not our luckiest ground & i had forgot that I have seen Town win here. Difference was the mistake for the goal. Thought Murphy & McGoldrick where poor or was it lacked support from the midfield. Disappointing again to drive home listening to the Reading fans relieved to have got 3 points. Team is improving but how long before we see our Polish goalie installed as number 1

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