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

IpswichT62OldBoy added 12:24 - Sep 10 My hopes had been raised by the signings we made but what I heard last night was all too familiar, i couldn't believe he brought Varney on for Ward. I have been a supporter of MMc but my patience is wearing thin and I am finding myself increasingly agreeing with the views of Warkthelint, as they pertain to style and player choice. I am prepared to see who is put out to play against Derby, my hope is he will have a change of personnel, Webster, Best, Bish etc and some desire to win, not just trying to hold on to a point. If it is as I fear, more of the same then I start to think we have nothing to loose by letting him go, especially as most people think he has a reasonable squad, its the way it is used that frustrates people. Hopefully it will all fall into place and we will be singing his praises as we start playing lovely flowing football with a cutting edge, the hope however is becoming harder to sustain.

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BrettenhamBlue added 12:36 - Sep 10 If results go against us today we may well need to get something at Derby just to stay out of the relegation area!!! Not a good result but worse than that a poor performance, first half we were completely outclassed. We deserved nothing and that's what we ended up with. We look like we need a target man up front and a decent right back.
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runningout added 13:15 - Sep 10 Have for ages.. off to Derby on Tuesday. If I see the same dull sh*te, that will be it for me for a while
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Swn98 added 13:19 - Sep 10 Nothing changes
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Kirtonspanner added 13:23 - Sep 10 Same old dross nothing thing will change because it suits some.
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Seasider added 15:49 - Sep 10 More people had the chance to see Ipswich yesterday;but don't think many will be persuaded to return to support our once proud club from the terraces on this performance. Said that Mick would start with team that nicked a 1-0 against Preston,as they had won previously. I also said I hoped that some of the new signings would get a bit of game time;but instead Ward is subbed at the end for Reg;so there were none of this seasons signings playing at the end. I have also wondered on here whether McCarthy would ever not start with either Chambers or Skuse.Well both had poor games especially the Captain.As usual he was beaten time and time again,and was booked.Also Smith had a poor game with a suicidal back pass and a glaring miss. The main beef I have with this Dinosaur of manager is his attitude to the game.He proudly announced on Sky before the game that they will know how his team will play,and afterwards thought the team had played well especially in the 2nd half. Yes Mick the 2nd half was better than the first which was dire and unentertaining,but entertainment isn't in his vocabulary,and tactics are so predictable that other teams find it easy to play against,especially as the Ipswich of today hardly ever put opponents under sustained pressure,and as a result are rarely more than a goal to the good at any stage in 90 minutes.No playing out from the back,and Bart hoofing long the whole game,even though their is now no Murph. I am not sure if Mick is feeling a bit of pressure after 4 years in charge,as this season he is berating the officials constantly and seems to get hot under the collar now despite previously being a Mr Cool who doesn't moan about refs decisions . It will be interesting to see if he does make any/many changes on Tuesday,or as Bart said after the match go out to win against Derby. However actions speak louder than words,and so far we have just had the words.

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wherescounago added 16:19 - Sep 10 First half was diabolical and just as Bru started to get further forward and pull the strings he gets taken off for Bishop who was ineffective yet again. The back four were woeful for most of the game, what did Scuse and Dougie do and how much longer do we have to tolerate Sears. I saw a comment that he ran his socks off, well maybe he did but is he ever going to do what we paid good money for and that is score GOALS!!! Thank God we have Bart or we would be bottom 3.

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ArnieM added 16:19 - Sep 10 Well the volume of discontent is getting ever louder and gaining momentum. However, realistically what chance is there that Evans will ever contemplate replacing Kick? Personally , I'd say none. So where the hell do we go from here?
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ArnieM added 16:21 - Sep 10 "Mick".... is there a subliminal message in this predicted text mistake I wonder!
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Surco72 added 16:47 - Sep 10 No views from Bedsit or Grumpyold man and the way MM is working towards a better style of football with his signings now Murphy has gone 😂😂😂 End of last season we had Bishop and Dozzell playing won games and even scored 3 in a game now we are back to the same back four , same midfield 3 and a small target man for the hoofs forward .
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Keaneish added 17:00 - Sep 10 Ha! I think so ArnieM. I think we're almost at banner time. Nothing malicious, just a simple message: "Time gentleman please".
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rinkydinkpanther added 17:25 - Sep 10 Ah what? You mean playing Chambers at right back and Skuse and Douglas in midfield didn't pay off for the umpteenth game on the trot?! Oh well, maybe it will next game. No point changing it.
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grumpyoldman added 17:39 - Sep 10 Surco72. I never thought I ever say this but I am beginning not to care about ITFC. MM has robbed me of the pleasure of coming to PR, with his last century tactics, his blatant disregard for supporters and his constant BS! I will not pay for Sky Sports to occasionally see my beloved blues, so do not watch them at all. This man is slowly killing off people's interest in town. Like many I thought the new signings would make a difference to the style but as I understand it Chambers has no other pass than belt it forward. I still read this site and have a good chuckle at some of the pontificating of some with their cult like belief in MM, after a win and the people lining up to lynch MM when we lose

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grubbyoik added 18:12 - Sep 10 Armstrong scored a blinder for Barnsley.. But he wasn't the type of striker we were looking for.. What.. one that scores goals!
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Swn98 added 18:16 - Sep 10 May I suggest you read Harryfrombaths Thread on the forum might add a bit of perspective to the situation a very good read from a supporter who I have great respect for.
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Pip50 added 18:29 - Sep 10 Grumpyoldman so well said. It's incomprehensible the tactics the selection the game changing substitutes. Either Mick has lost the plot further or he is on the payroll of the other 23 clubs. How can we borrow a couple of Prem squad players and not play them. How do our youngsters learn the trade by hardly getting any minutes. Why did we buy a footballing centre half and leave him out. They can't all be unfit! I watched my first game in 1969 and won't be going back whilst this ignorant man is in charge. Marcus gets some balls step up and jettison this idiot. Huddlesfield & Barsley 1 & 2 at the moment we have nothing to lose.

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therein61 added 18:43 - Sep 10 Dubious penalties! what about the dubious right back who was skinned all game it was only because Ward was protecting him that we went 1 down, otherwise we did not play that badly over the 90 mins but the selection policy is still underwhelming given that Pitman was waving his arm in frustration to get people to come forward and help him as early as the 16th minute(and yes I attended the game) he worked his rear end off and put in a great shift didn't he Mr Skuse!!

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poldark added 18:44 - Sep 10 Mick said he will get fans off there feet well he certainly doing that trouble is they are walking out never to return
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patthegimp added 19:30 - Sep 10 Fan since 1966. have booked holiday in Suffolk with initial attention of going to A Villa game. Have now decided not to go, just enjoy long week-end break close to decent CAMRA pub. From Ireland so long expensive journey including ferry crossing. I feel quite sad that ITFC style of play with the current manager have killed my loyalty to this extent. Maybe it is time to go Mick

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grumpyoldman added 19:59 - Sep 10 Pip50 I go back until 1962 so you must realise the wrench in not attending PR
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warktheline added 20:03 - Sep 10 Couldn't face reading the posts until now, anyhow, yes vast majority can see things clearly!!! I'll condense my two pennies worth to just a few words, continued negativity in regards to tactics ultimately results in failure, and I posted when McCarthy signed Best that the boy would score a hatful of goals initially.....if he's ever given the opportunity! Personal believed he would start the game, who was I kidding!!!!!zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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WindsorBlueArmy added 20:29 - Sep 10 Sad to see what is happening to our once proud club.Fully agree with Grumpyoldman,Patthegimp and Pip50.I have conversations with my son about going to Portman Road in the 60s and 70s and the ground being almost full by 2.00!!!!!Would the likes of Jefferson,Crawford,Robertson,Beattie,Hunter,Muhren,Mariner et al be playing this style of football or not be seen to give 100% for the club?Is it the invisible chairman(where's the Cobbold family when you need them?!!)unwilling to spend money having received £20 million for Cresswell,Murphy,and Mings,the manager with poor tactics/team selection,players lack of ability/passion,questionable academy structure with few(if any)players making the grade or a mixture of all 4?Like many I will keep supporting in the hopes there's light at the end of a very long tunnel!!!!!

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surgery added 21:10 - Sep 10 Much as it pains me to even write the word Keane, credit where it's due, he was a reasonable player. Imagine being told by today's Dark Lord how football should be played. Little wonder he did a runner.
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AlexanderFields added 22:56 - Sep 10 Reading is one of the few grounds I can usually get to each season these days but last night I couldn't be bothered to make the 50-mile trip and I'm glad I didn't. I watched instead on NowTV and wished I hadn't bothered with that either. The £6.99 it cost me was a waste of money - would have been better spent on a corn plaster. Would someone please inform our hoofers that Murphy isn't there any more.

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pup12 added 23:12 - Sep 10 Prebsa what can I say ,spot on .MM really does himself no good with poor subs!!! I can imagine him thinking let's see game out ,good away point .How many times does it have to happen,the opportunity to punish teams not taken ,then we loose game.Postive subs would be nice.Grant Ward one of our biggest threats on goal taken off!!why?? Dear was knacked bring Lawrence on to run at the tiered defenders to streach Reading .Bring Best on for Pittman (who I thought second half was excellent,considering service).Then kelp Reading pecked back ,who knows we might have won game .Instead of negative subs which invited Reading foward.What's the point of signing players to make difference only to leave them on bench?? Never make impact on team from there.Same old MM ,same old town .Coyb

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