Match ends, Watford 0, Reading 1.
WatfordWatford0ReadingReading1
Kaspars Gorkss scored as Reading subjected Beppe Sannino to his first defeat as Watford head coach.
The Latvian defender headed Jordan Obita's corner home early on to make Reading's only attempt on target tell.
A header and stinging shot from Troy Deeney were saved by Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, before Fernando Forestieri fired over from six yards.
McCarthy saved from Lewis McGugan late on, before Watford debutant Alexander Merkel was sent off for a poor tackle.
Since succeeding Gianfranco Zola in December, head coach Sannino had guided Watford to a win and three draws prior to the visit of Nigel Adkins's side.
The hosts created the bulk of the chances at Vicarage Road, but Reading, with McCarthy excelling, showed a resilience to earn a first win in six matches.
Despite their poor run of form, the win moves the Royals to within one point of the play-offs.
Watford, who missed promotion in the play-off final last season, remain in the bottom half of the table.
Gorkss glanced his fifth-minute header past Manuel Almunia after Obita's fine delivery and the lead was almost extended when Jobi McAnuff shot wide.
Watford responded well and McGugan's deliveries posed problems for the visiting defence before Sean Murray came agonisingly close to connecting with Daniel Pudil's delivery across goal.
Barring a wayward Adam Le Fondre shot, Reading spent much of the second period under pressure as they protected only their second goal in five matches.
Deeney's header and shot on the turn forced McCarthy into action, before the striker's cross was blazed over by the unmarked Forestieri.
It was Watford's golden chance to extend their four-match unbeaten run and when Merkel saw red for a reckless challenge on Nick Blackman, their frustrating day was complete.
Watford head coach Beppe Sannino:
"I would like to see my players always play good football, nice and easy football as well, but we were a little bit slow today.
"It was difficult to come out with the ball. We played a lot of back passes which disappointed me, that was the point I didn't like today. But it is a part of my job. What we saw in the second half is giving me a lot of positives."
Reading manager Nigel Adkins:
"I thought we played some good football in the first half against what I believe is a good side in Watford.
"We've got a lot of players out who have been out injured for a long time and obviously (it comes) on the back of a couple of disappointing results over Christmas.
"Obviously the form over Christmas with the results going against us wasn't ideal and Leicester are doing a great job now where they are in the league.
"But we're back on track for the play-off positions with 21 games to go and we're really going to enjoy the second half of the season."
Line-ups
Watford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Almunia
- 3BellerínSubstituted forForestieriat 55'minutesBooked at 83mins
- 18PudilBooked at 90mins
- 6Ekstrand
- 4Angella
- 12DoyleySubstituted forFaraoniat 78'minutes
- 8MerkelBooked at 90mins
- 16MurraySubstituted forBattocchioat 73'minutes
- 20Fabbrini
- 9Deeney
- 10McGugan
Substitutes
- 7Battocchio
- 11Forestieri
- 17Hall
- 19Faraoni
- 23Santos Da Silva
- 24Woods
- 33Nosworthy
Reading
Formation 3-5-2
- 21McCarthy
- 12McClearySubstituted forTaylorat 87'minutes
- 11McAnuffBooked at 58mins
- 5Pearce
- 17Gorkss
- 2Gunter
- 23Williams
- 16AkpanBooked at 55minsSubstituted forBlackmanat 82'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 9Le FondreBooked at 17mins
- 7Pogrebnyak
- 37ObitaSubstituted forCummingsat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Federici
- 3Kelly
- 10Drenthe
- 22Blackman
- 24Cummings
- 25Taylor
- 35Hector
- Referee:
- Keith Stroud
- Attendance:
- 15,725
Match Stats
Home TeamWatfordAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Watford 0, Reading 1.
Booking
Daniel Pudil (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Nick Blackman (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Gabriele Angella (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Nick Blackman (Reading).
Dismissal
Alexander Merkel (Watford) is shown the red card.
Post update
Foul by Alexander Merkel (Watford).
Post update
Nick Blackman (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marco Davide Faraoni (Watford) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Diego Fabbrini.
Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Daniel Williams.
Post update
Attempt missed. Fernando Forestieri (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Alexander Merkel.
Post update
Attempt missed. Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Jake Taylor with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Alexander Merkel (Watford).
Post update
Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Jake Taylor replaces Garath McCleary.
Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Shaun Cummings.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Shaun Cummings replaces Jordan Obita.
Booking
Fernando Forestieri (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Fernando Forestieri (Watford) has gone down, but that's a dive.
