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

Minneapolis_ITFC added 00:03 - Sep 11 Believe seen it read that we actually played with some competence and belief at some stages of the game so it wasn't all one way traffic ? They at least showed some determination second half and some level of promise was evident ? Haven't seen the major decisions affecting the eventual score but it's blatantly clear many of the support are not happy with many elements within the club, (once again the manager being most in the line of fire) Won't hide from the fact I'm no great advocate of wanting McCarthy's continued management at this club but then you get the inevitable shouts of "who can do a better job" from some sections of the support. Bottom line, any patience I had with McCarthy seems used up long before this here game and what occurred at Reading appears to only reinforce doubts and suspicions regards his continued placement as team coach. Pity is I can't see any replacement in the immediate future or indeed until the new season is over. (Another eight months of potential McCarthy management is an unsavory thought, but what can you do)

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bluesince76 added 00:28 - Sep 11 MaCarthy out Poyet/Tarrico in.
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ArnieM added 00:47 - Sep 11 I'd go with Lambert
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Walk_the_Wark added 01:34 - Sep 11 Not Bruce tho. I live in Hull- he's more of the same..
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Walk_the_Wark added 01:38 - Sep 11 For what its worth I feel its all far too comfortable at the top at our club. Evans and MM both happy to be an average championship team. I feel nothing less than a mass demonstration will change anything. Still not sure there are enough MM detesters yet... We've been going nowhere for a few years now.
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Keaneish added 06:45 - Sep 11 This is the problem, we missed out on some good management options this summer in Monk or Di Matteo. I'd like to see Mark Warburton here.
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Swn98 added 07:52 - Sep 11 Keanish dream on no experienced manager is going to come here on the resources available to him that leaves journeymen or young managers trying to learn their trade let's get behind what we've got till Evans goes could be pretty soon Imo despite all the frustration and moaning on this site I still feel we are not that far behind most clubs in the division.
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:15 - Sep 11 i honestly believe this will be a survival season, wether we sink or swim ..time will tell .
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grumpyoldman added 08:50 - Sep 11 Look at our two most successful managers, neither had much experience but both had a vision on how the game should be played. One even changed the face of football with his revolutionary tactics. So don't look at proven managers, as somebody says why would they come here, look to hungry managers with something to prove. Eddie Howe would not have been Bournemouth supporters first choice when he started but look at them now!

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Keaneish added 10:02 - Sep 11 Swn98 - did you not read my post correctly? I said Mark Warburton who is an inexperienced but talented manager. He's clearly within our pulling power with the current resources. Back MM??? Have you not read the previous 130+ messages on this thread? We've had enough because it's abysmal to watch. He's in his 5th season now, how much longer are you prepared to wait? It's easier to change manager than it is ownership!

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Bob7881 added 10:15 - Sep 11 Such a sad time seeing all the posts on here. I never wanted MM from day one dont like his tactics simple as. Is he doing a good job on money spent well we have to say yes however the results have come at a cost the football is simply not football. I along with most fans welcomed the take over by Evans but as we have all found out i think ITFC was part of plan to advertise Evans name all over the world which has never gone to plan. Until Evans decides to cut his losses we as fans are stuck with the situation. I cant see him sacking MM so future as far as entertaining football goes is not bright. Sadly also we have going suffer the same with the national team.

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Bluetone added 11:17 - Sep 11 Given the on going problems what is the ruling regarding Club owners having to be suitable and proper for the position.
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Cloddyseedbed added 12:28 - Sep 11 Bluetone I think crimes of dishonesty if proven are one.
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warkthelint added 15:40 - Sep 11 I love my club with a passion and have done so for many years and in this turbulent moment in the club's fortunes, the thing that irks me the most is the bone-headed stupidity of the manager - playing deliberately players out of position and wasting them i.e Chambers and Sears, when it is clear they are not suited to those roles and effectively ruining our prospects and also, the style of play..or I should say the lack of it.I cannot fathom how he can still insist on 2playing for a point" when teams are there for the taking, weaker teams get beefed up to be giants and we have the likes of Pitman throwing his arms up in disgust when the ball is played head high up to him ...alone. Surely someone has to take the coaching responsibilities away from McCarthy as he is seems to be on an ego journey and simply won't admit that his tactics are NOT working. Can't someone make it clear that it's not functioning. Could you imagine Town under this lackey coming back from the dead like Watford yesterday and throwing everything into attack..and look what happened. Under McCarthy , this wouldn't even happen in a dream. Something has to be done because with him, it's a case of more of the same..despite assurances that we would play better on the ground football rather than hoofism. Simply the worst football I have seen in over 40 years and he makes the Duncan period look like a match for Sir Bobby's golden period. Truly awful, uninspiring dead end football. Please someone take up the cudgel and get this man removed from the club...even the youth sections are in revolt as Klug tries to impress a modern pressing style of play which is then abandoned at first team level when they come under the tutelage of McCarthy. Time is up..

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tractorboybig added 16:02 - Sep 11 relegation looms. Pretty poor in all departments. Out played by a crap team. O woeful<
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HackneyBlue added 16:45 - Sep 11 I like many sit at home now on saturdays waiting for the time when ITFC start to play football so i can re new my season ticket,i find it difficult to take as not sure if i want them to win or loose.Before people say you should stick with it through thick and thin i have been through all that in the last 40 years-ENTERTAIN me and im back.
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Seasider added 17:54 - Sep 11 I don't decry what you are doing,and agree with nearly every post(see mine on page 5) Two of our group,like you, have given up their season tickets this summer after many years,leaving just two of us with over 100years of support between us.My fellow supporter is not as fit as he was and could well call it a day at the end of this season, especially if this bloody minded,know it all of a Manager is still in charge;which most of us fear he will be. There are also other factors keeping casual supporters away ie the cost of matchday tickets.A former season ticket holder, who spends much of his time away, has just returned to Spain. Whilst here he considered going to watch Town;but was put off by the cost of £40.Where he is at the moment,there is a bus load of Brits who go regularly to Barca!!!The shirts the boys wore the other day were similar if nothing else.Still Mick hasn't much time for this tippy tappy football eh,and prefers a bit of Yorkshire grit !

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Swn98 added 18:09 - Sep 11 Keanish the trouble is everybody can have an opinion about different managers but who of the names banded about would actually want to come to Portman Rd and as for putting Warburton in the frame do you think he would want leave Rangers to come to ITFC i think not. What you want and what you get could be a poisoned chalice. Take a step back and look at the season so far apart from a 20 minute capitulation at Brentford and a woefull first half Friday I believe that we are a better team than the last 6 games of last season there's plenty of games, twists and turns of this season left so instead of all this anti management rhetoric all true blues should get behind the club and Support it.

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Swn98 added 18:12 - Sep 11 By the way Keaneish there might be 130 posts on here but thank goodness they are not a majority view take a look on the forum much more balanced and reasoned debate.
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Keaneish added 18:38 - Sep 11 Unfortunately Swn98, they are becoming the majority of the view and the dwindling attendances are testament to that. And yes, i absolutely think Warburton would come back to the Championship to test himself again as he has unfinished business in this league. This "anti-management" rhetoric has been going on for well beyond just this season and just because its a new season, it doesn't erase the last 18 months + of poor terrible football. And please don't insinuate i'm not a fan if i criticise the establishment and infer that i must support blindly because its a duty - this isn't the army. Are you called Swn98 because you were born in 1998? If that's the case then it's probably the reason you were happy with the prior 70 minutes against Brentford and the second half against Reading. Under Keane, Jewell and McCarthy you've been subjected to the worst period in Town's proud footballing history.... I will now visit the forum...

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Keaneish added 18:51 - Sep 11 Swn98 - i've looked on the forum, the debates are the same just in a different format. I can probably save you time by giving you all the answers you need here: Is McCarthy a good manager? The answer is yes, to an extent. He is experienced who knows the ropes and is a safe pair of hands in times of turmoil. Will he get us promoted? No, his ideas are outdated, he's tactically naive at times, and he's too rigid in his approach to every single game. Is he the right man for Town now? No. He did a good job keeping us up but his style of football in this era will only get a team so far and he's run his course at this club. Our reputation is damaged, the football is abysmal and his obstinance and pride is his own undoing. His farcical selections and decision making of late coupled with his delusional statements are as tired and wearisome as his view of how football should be played.

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Surco72 added 19:01 - Sep 11 Stop using the tired excuse of no money , it takes no money at all to teach a passing ,movement ,quick ,wide style of football our manager doesn't have the ability to coach this , the likes of Bish , Dozzell ,Sears will not improve under MM . He plays direct football tries to stop the opposition playing and hopes we can nick a set piece by pumping the ball into the area and see what happens , it hasn't changed in 20 years

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grumpyoldman added 20:32 - Sep 11 Thank you for pointing out that I am not a true blue because I choose not to return until MM leaves, Swn98, who the hell do you think you are, we all follow the town in our own way, and no jumped up fool has the God given right to decide who is a true blue and who is not. You keep going to PR if you want, I prefer my football to be entertaining, perhaps I have been spoiled by living through the most successful period in its history. The turgid fayre served up by this throwback to the old days is an insult to those who went before. Do not judge others, they have a right to their opinion. Forgive the contradiction in terms but calling other supporters not true blues makes my blood boil

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Swn98 added 20:45 - Sep 11 Keanish I unfortunately I was born in 1958 unfortunately in one aspect I'm nearer the grave than the womb fortunate that I saw all the good times from 1975 yes I was at St etienne cologne and Alkmaar etc etc however those great days were 40 years ago. Everybody's entitled to their opinion mine is because of the massive changes in the structure of football we have been a Club in decline for the last 15 years and only really been steadied by MM. Just changing manager is not necessarily the answer and more likely to worsen the situation.

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surgery added 20:46 - Sep 11 If this man were hung for being a modern football manager he'd surely die innocent. PLEASE PLEASE can someone remove him from his post. Who though? Presumably, the only one who can is too busy trying to save his own neck with his team of lawyers than he is sorting out compensation packages.
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