Danny Williams netted the game’s third penalty deep in second-half injury time to hand Reading a 2-1 victory over the Blues at the Madejski Stadium, Jonas Knudsen having been adjudged to have hauled down Joey van den Berg at a corner. In first-half injury time Grant Ward had been harshly penalised for handball for the game’s first spotkick, Garath McCleary putting the Royals in front, with Brett Pitman firing home Town’s penalty five minutes after the break having been fouled by Tyler Blackett.

Boss Mick McCarthy named the same team that defeated Preston North End 1-0 before the international break with new signings Tom Lawrence and Leon Best among the subs, along with Conor Grant, back from his groin injury.

Reading started with midfielder Van den Berg, who had a trial with Town in 2006, while John Swift, who spent a similar spell with the Blues in 2014, was on the bench.

The Blues, wearing their Barcelona-style third kit with new maroon shorts and socks, started brightly and Freddie Sears forced Ali Al-Habsi into a save in only the third minute.

Ward picked up a loose ball not far outside the Reading box and looped the ball over a defender. Sears took it into the area and hit a shot which Al-Habsi did well to push into the air.

Bru picked up the loose ball and fed Pitman, playing as the central striker with Ward to his right and Sears to the left, but the midfielder was flagged offside.

Reading began to dominate possession, as is their usual approach under new manager Jaap Stam, and in the eighth minute would have gone in front but for a brilliant Bartosz Bialkowski save.

Tommy Smith stabbed a loose ball back towards Bialkowski from a few yards outside the area but only succeeded in playing in Roy Beerens.

The Dutchman looked to square to Yann Kermorgant but the quickly advancing Bialkowski read it and reacted with superb reflexes to paw the ball out to Christophe Berra, who cleared the danger.

A minute later the Royals threatened again, George Evans heading over from a Beerens cross from the left.

Bialkowski made another important stop in the 26th minute when skipper Luke Chambers cleared the ball against Beerens, who took it across Tommy Smith and hit a shot which the Polish keeper saved across to his left, Berra again clearing.

Referee Jeremy Simpson got his yellow card out for the first time in the 29th minute after Liam Moore had tripped Kevin Bru as the Mauritius international took the ball round him on the outside, not far outside the box. The resultant freekick came to nothing.

The home side continued to have most of the ball but without threatening, aside from a number of balls into the box which the Blues backline and keeper Bialkowski dealt with.

On 36 Evans hit a shot from distance which deflected over, then two minutes later Chris Gunter was yellow-carded for dissent.

In the 41st minute Evans joined him in the book for diving in at Ward and catching him in the back with his knees after the Blues winger had slid in and won the ball. Some referees might have deemed the offence worthy of a straight red card with Evans not needing to make a challenge, the ball had gone, and having gone in high.

The half seemed set to end level but two minutes into injury time the Royals were awarded a spotkick.

The ball was played back to Blackett a couple of yards away from the corner of the box on the left. The former Manchester United defender slammed his cross into Ward’s arm with the winger only a matter of a couple of yards in front of him and referee Simpson pointed straight to the spot.

Although the ball clearly struck Ward’s arm, the former Spurs man would have had no time to react to the cross and it was difficult to see how the referee could have deemed the contact deliberate.

McCleary stepped up and sent Bialkowski the wrong way to send the home side in a goal in front at the break.

Up to the penalty, the Blues will have been happy enough with the half for the most part.

Aside from a couple of chances which came from Town errors, the Royals hadn’t particularly threatened, despite having a very significant share of possession.

At the other end, Town had only very occasionally caused the Reading backline any headaches with Sears’s early opportunity the nearest they had come to a goal.

Five minutes after the restart, the Blues were back on terms via a penalty of their own. Jonathan Douglas initially felt he’d been fouled as the ball came in from the right, then as Knudsen looped it back in from the left Blackett shoved Pitman at the far post.

While Reading fans will presumably have viewed the decision as harshly as Town fans had the earlier spotkick, there was certainly a push by Blackett, who became the fourth Royals player to be booked.

Pitman smashed the penalty down the middle of the goal before celebrating his first goal of the season in front of the Town fans.

Chambers picked up the Blues’ first booking of the evening for a foul on Kermorgant before Ward went close to putting Town in front.

Bru was sent away down the left and cut the ball back to the summer signing from Tottenham, who turned superbly and hit a shot which Al-Habsi did well to keep out.

On 57 Beerens sent over a cross from the left which McCleary headed into the ground and straight at Bialkowski when he ought to have tested the Blues keeper more significantly.

Town had another good chance to go in front right on the hour. Berra nodded down Bru’s corner from the right and the ball fell to Smith, but the New Zealand international sliced the ball over the bar, much to his evident frustration.

The Blues were more in the game as an attacking force in the second half and soon after Smith’s chance Ward wasn’t too far away from finding Pitman with a cross from the right. Knudsen’s subsequent shot flew well wide.

On 67 Sears played Pitman in on the right of the box and the former Bournemouth man hit a low shot which Al-Habsi couldn’t hold and Blackett turned it behind. From the corner, Berra headed over, much to his frustration. While Al-Habsi prepared to take the goalkick Teddy Bishop replaced Bru.

As the game moved into its final quarter of an hour Swift hit a shot from distance which Bialkowski bundled behind.

From the resultant Reading corner Sears broke quickly from deep. The ex-Colchester and West Ham man ought to have fed Pitman but continued to take the ball on and was crowded out.

The ball deflected out to Pitman on the left and his cross flew too deep but as the ball came over Blackett felled Bishop with a stray arm inside the box but referee Simpson missed it.

Town threatened again moments later with Douglas’s header sending Pitman in on goal on the left of the box but Van den Berg made a brilliant challenge to prevent the Town striker getting in a shot.

Royals sub Jordan Obita sent over a dangerous cross from the left in the 84th minute, fellow replacement Stephen Quinn, the brother of ex-Blue Alan, heading over having got in front of Berra.

A minute later Cole Skuse hit a shot through to Al-Habsi from distance and on 86 Luke Varney took over from Ward.

As the match moved into four minutes of injury time Moore nodded down a freekick from the left but Van den Berg was unable to get a final touch and Bialkowski was able to claim. Soon after, Skuse shot well wide for the Blues.

Town looked to have claimed what would have been a deserved draw until Reading were awarded their second penalty of the evening.

As Reading prepared to take a corner on the right there was some pushing and pulling involving Berra and Paul McShane. The Scotland international was eventually booked, as was Van den Berg for intervening.

When the ball finally did come in from the right Van den Berg tried to force his way past Knudsen and went to ground as the Danish international grappled with him.

Referee Simpson pointed to the spot for the third time, probably unsurprisingly given the prior incident. Knudsen was booked for his foul and Skuse for complaining about the decision.

With McCleary having been subbed Williams took the penalty and beat Bialkowski to claim the three points.

Had the game ended in a draw then the Blues would have deserved the point having had the better of the chances in the second half.

The penalty incidents will inevitably be the main talking points with all three of the type which might not have been given on another day by another official with referee Simpson putting in an inconsistent performance throughout.

Town, who are 13th in the Championship, are next in action at Derby County on Tuesday evening.

Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Blackett (Obita 82), Moore, McShane (c), Van den Berg, Evans (Quinn 59), Williams, McCleary (Swift 66), Beerens, Kermorgant. Unused: Jaakkola, Mendes, Harriott, Watson.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bru (Bishop 68), Ward (Varney 86), Sears, Pitman. Unused: Gerken, Webster, Grant, Lawrence, Best. Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire). Att: 15,146 (Town: 1,070).

Photo: Action Images

battyblue added 06:55 - Sep 10 Get Steve Bruse in before its to late MM pack your bags you are hopeless,,lets have a poll up on the site
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jewellsjewells added 07:21 - Sep 10 We are now a middle table team in this league At best ......
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Keaneish added 07:26 - Sep 10 Blue Machine, I'm with you. How anyone could label a prospective draw an "excellent" away point playing like that is astonishing really and so far removed from reality. The performance, the tactics, the mentality, the substitutions were a debacle as far as I'm concerned. The fact MM thinks Skuse is a premier league standard player says how woefully out of touch he is with the modern game. I'm sick of people like Peter Beagrie bigging Mick up because he has a 'shoe string budget'. It doesn't excuse the complete dross that gets broadcast around the world. Our mentality was epitomised when Skuse came for a short ball from a Knudsen throw only to be told 'no' by Knudsen and MM. The ball was then hurtled down the line and subsequently out for a Reading throw. It speaks volumes for how utter s***e our football mentality is. Balls over the top, balls into channels, full backs back up for second phase of play, counter attack, wide midfielders cover full backs, clear your lines, turn the defenders....YAWN. The only thing we did well tonight was press high up the pitch. Nobody other than Bart did more than the bare minimum expected of them. "Excellent" second half? No. We improved but we were still massively disjointed. Dour. It's time for change.

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Steelmonkey added 07:32 - Sep 10 The game went pretty much as I thought it would given MM team selection, absolutely laid it on the line as to how we would play in his pre match interview. Well that worked.' Same old faces let us down purely because they are not good enough. Plain to see where our failings lay, but will you do anything about it. I'm very glad that I won't ever pay for Sky sports, because the two pundits they had commenting on the game were worse than our performance, if that's a measure of their talents. Should of turned the sound off and put the radio on.

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WindsorBlueArmy added 07:39 - Sep 10 Realistically we have a top half of the championship squad it's a matter of who plays where.What are opinions re best team for next game? Bart Webster Smith Berra/Chambers Knudsen Ward Bishop Skuse Grant/Lawrence Pitman Best Meant to add previously that I knew we wouldn't get anything tonight when early in first half from Knudsen long throw linesman flagged Ward for offside!!!!!!!!!!

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dirtydingusmagee added 07:57 - Sep 10 sorry, dont like sounding negative,but nothing has changed, same old mundane football.Seen nothing to sway me to return to the stands. Really concerned about the lack of determination and ambition on and off the field.
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JimmyP45 added 08:02 - Sep 10 Just when I thought Mick was starting to have a brain after the last few decent displays he then goes and ruins it all. Very poor negative defensive 11 put out and we got what was coming to us. Full backs had an absolute shocker and why Webster was dropped I will never know. All of our bench bar Gerken and Varney should have started or at least play part in the game. Silly penalties which in another game none of which would be given.

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BlueandTruesince82 added 08:02 - Sep 10 Right, now I've calmed down. First 5 min brilliant, next 40 pretty crap, 2nd half better, shame the volley had to fall to Tommy. When we had thr ball we looker the more threatening with it, we didnt have it often enough. Wi didn't deserve to win but we didn't desever to lose either. Ref was shocking too cardy for most of the game yet bottled the blatant red from their chap. What I don't understand is why not throw on Lawrence or Best at 1 all.

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sereneblue added 08:42 - Sep 10 I done something last night whilst watching Ipswich on sky, that I thought I would never do. I turned it off at half time so I didn't ruin the rest of my evening. Total and utter dross. What has happened to playing football with a bit of desire. McCarthy isn't the man to take Ipswich forward.
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phillo added 08:54 - Sep 10 Hard to disagree with the first post on here from Michael which sums it all up nicely ! Is bohslegend actually Mick posting on here do we think ???
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BlueMachines added 09:00 - Sep 10 I'm not trying to get at Bohslegend. I find this style and manager utterly awful. But Bohslegend doesn't and I'd like to understand what positives they see. What am I missing? Bohs passionately advocates MM, I just want to understand the reAsons why?
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blueboy1981 added 09:11 - Sep 10 ....... bohs' just has to be connected to the McCarthy family in some way - no other logical explanation. At least he's seen a game for once , and 'appeared' on here - but where are the rest of the crew .... ?? Lost for words I guess, as illogical as they normally are ... !!
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chripswich added 09:14 - Sep 10 I had the misfortune to waste one evening of a hard earned holiday watching a boring, predictable championship game in a sports bar on the Costa.. The league is going to suffer in terms of watch-ability if Sky feature too many games like this - all championship games seem to be totally bereft of any quality whatsoever.. As far as Ipswich are concerned the boredom around the bar said it all..one fellow viewer piped up with "what happened to the proper tractor boys? (Attractive football)" I could only answer - "mick McCarthy" PPS How McCarthy can question knudsons stupidity is beyond belief! PPS thank goodness I can watch United v City later - some proper holiday entertainment!!! (and its not about the money - there's no reason why the championship should be dull as dishwater

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MadDog added 09:17 - Sep 10 We won't do any better until we sort out the defence. Tommy Smith had his worst game for a long time & Knudsen is never impressive. No point mentioning Chambers as he will always be our right back! Bru has done absolutely nothing all season but is obviously one of Mick's favourites now-as is Sears who needs dropping for his own good! Hate to think what'll happen against Derby!!

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blueboy1981 added 09:26 - Sep 10 ....... impressive 'gelling' excercise going on on the bench - they all looked as p*ssed off as parrots, who had been promised seed - but didn't get any ...... !!
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vanmunt added 09:35 - Sep 10 Seriously how bad do the likes of Chambers, Slugless, Excuse & Berra have to play to get dropped by Myopic Mick.. I bet Webster is wondering why the hell he has been replaced by Smith and I don't think I have seen an egg take such a beating as Chambers last night. Terrible, this is now getting to the level of Jewell and Keane bad.
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greenkingtone added 09:47 - Sep 10 For comic relief, did anyone hear the phone-in after the game, and notice how many times Mick Mills and the guys on the phone, used the words "you know?" One caller was almost inarticulate and said little else. Perhaps it was the effect of the awful game he'd just witnessed.
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blues1 added 09:54 - Sep 10 Still one or 2 on here, not as many as I expected sagging of Knudsens performance. Of course what he did at the end was ridiculous and unforgivable but other than that he was solid again. The reason we didn t win this game lies entirely in the hands of the dinosaur of a manager, McCarthy. Reading were there for the taking. Possibly the worst team we've played this season yet he still was content to sit back and invite them on. How Sears again played the whole 90 mins I don't know when u hadcLawrence on the bench. And why not being on Best to support Pitman. The sooner McCarthy goes the better. Let's get a manager who at least wants to try to win the game. Would have accepted us losing had we gone for it and maybe lost to an unfortunate goal. But to yet again play this negative crap is frankly getting on my nerves.

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runningout added 10:01 - Sep 10 We are getting a awful reputation after so many dull televised games... attempting to hold out for a draw is not what I know, and don't want to know
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BillBlue added 10:09 - Sep 10 Sereneblue - I know exactly how you feel as I have been doing exactly that for about the last three years!
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blueboy1981 added 10:19 - Sep 10 ........ the Dinosaur Park beckons for a certain person ..... !!!
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dannyrr added 10:26 - Sep 10 Why do we play the same tired old favourites all the time. We bring in talent but everyone knows they won't get a chance to play. Why do you think Tommy Oar left? He played more game time for Australia than he did for us. Johnny Parr had no chance of getting a game and if your intention is to play and not keep the bench warm and pick up wages then you'll be right to choose to go. Even Sky were deriding Excuse last night for his long shots with one goal in four years. With MM in charge there is no chance of having 50% of the team from the academy as they will never get the opportunity. Surely the idea of a manager is to change the team week in week out to counterbalance the tactics or strengths of the opposition not to play the same team week in week out that make the same performance each time. It's blind loyalty. Some players need to be dropped occasionally to show there is no guarantee of being on the team sheet every game. Knudsens long throws have achieved nothing in a whole season. I don't even think we have come close to scoring as a result of them. It clearly doesn't work so why persist? If we have brought players in to do a job let them at least show they can do it. There were players on the bench to win that game but we kept the same old on hoping for a draw. Something needs to change. Not sure it will though. Disappointed again. 😦

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Dissboyitfc added 10:33 - Sep 10 I just dont enjoy watching us any more. Of that starting line up only Bart, Ward would start in any other championship side. Poor team selection, players out of form playing out of position. I was really annoyed, when asked, what match summarises thought of the town one of them said, " a typical town performance", Wrong! a typical MM performance. still think ITFC are better than that. A disgrace to the proud football team we once were. I think Another manager would improve us immensely with the squad we have. MM needs to go!

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Carberry added 11:10 - Sep 10 There was a moment in the 1st half which summed it all up. Reading had been attacking and we found ourselves in possession in our 3rd, whoever had it looked up and couldn't see a single passing opportunity to an Ipswich player so he hoofed it down the line and into touch. Terrible lack of creativity and positive play. For all his so called honesty MM needs to come out and explain himself, the selections, the tactics, the strategy and the future. Come on TWTD, Green Un, EADT make this happen, trade on his pride in calling a spade a spade. Why have we had a big song and dance about signing wingers when on last night's evidence we have no intention of using them? Don't deny he has done a job with nothing that very few would have achieved but now we need some ambition and that doesn't come for free Mr Evans. Take a look around you and see what football costs these days. Oh and Mr Milne, once you have finished choosing the colour of the carpets stop acting like you are running things and know football - move on. The big concern is if by some miracle we get promoted how many of us could endure this one dimensional offering with bargain basement recruits?

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warkthelint added 11:24 - Sep 10 I wasn't at the game but by all accounts judging from the comments posted, nothing is going to change with the current regime of manager and president running the show. in over 40 years of following Town, this has to be the worst shower of a club. We have a bone headed, one trick pony of a manager who refuses to accept that his way of playing went out with the Penny Farthing,our good name of playing attractive football is long gone and has been replaced by the most sterile,dull and boring football imaginable. - his advocation to playing always for a point instead of going for wins despite a promise to win the hearts and minds of the supporters this summer,A silent president for whom an arrest warrant has been issued for dodgy dealings and who has not invested significantly for a number of years, a youth section for whom our manager holds no love and has never shown any particular interest if reports are to be believed despite his words to the contrary, players being played out of position almost wilfully by a manager who seems to take a perverse pleasure in doing so i.e anyone can see that Chambers is not a full back and the consequence is that we will lose two promising players in Kenlock and Emmanuel who won't be given a real opportunity to prove their worth as our forward thinking manager doesn't believe in giving youth a chance,and Sears who is losing the verve and tenacity drained out of him by McCarthy's refusal to play him in his best position and thus jeopardising Town's prospects of actually winning games, a club policy to deliberatley exit the cup tournaments because our manager doesn't have the bottle for a fight and the tactical nous to get around winning do or die matches if we look at his cup and play off records then we will understand immediately...abysmal. My son has stopped supporting Town as a young man he can see through the dross being offered and see the smell of desperation in the air and I can't blame him. I believe McCarthy's time was up after the Portsmouth FA Cup debacle and I reinforce the point that we have to change our mentality completely if we are to be protagonists and start by changing the manager sooner rather than later..he has to go.

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