Derby County 0-3 Reading

Kwesi Appiah's early strike was his first in six appearances for Reading

Derby County missed out on a play-off place as their end-of-season slump ended with defeat against Reading.

A superior goal difference meant Derby needed just a draw to stay in the top six but they set the tone for a disjointed and nervy display by gifting Kwesi Appiah a second-minute opener.

Darren Bent wasted a chance to level when his penalty was saved by keeper Adam Federici just before the break.

And Michael Hector's shot and Garath McCleary's spot-kick sealed victory.

The Rams started the day in sixth place in the Championship table, but ended in eighth as Brentford's win over already-relegated Wigan earned them fifth spot, while Ipswich clung on to the final play-off place despite losing to Blackburn.

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McClaren on Derby v Reading

Wolves beat Millwall and also finished above the Rams, but missed out on goal difference.

Reading's impressive victory ruined Derby's day but, having won just two out of their last 12 games before hosting the Royals, the result was maybe not as shocking as it first seemed.

There was an enthusiastic minute's applause before kick off to celebrate the life of former BBC Radio Derby presenter Colin Bloomfield, a familiar voice and face to Rams fans, who last month died aged 33 following a battle with cancer.

The warm tribute helped create a wonderful pre-match atmosphere at the iPro but the mood swiftly changed to one of disbelief and silence.

Will Hughes played a sloppy pass which allowed Appiah to run towards goal, and after Richard Keogh committed himself, the Crystal Palace loanee cleverly cut inside and slid the ball home.

End-of-season slump
Derby County conceded 23 goals in their final 13 Championship matches, in which their only wins came against relegated sides Wigan Athletic and Blackpool. The Rams earned just 12 points out of a possible 39 since beating Charlton Athletic in February.

The lively Tom Ince and Bent did both have decent shots saved by keeper Adam Federici, while Keogh went close and Reading's Nathaniel Chalobah almost put through his own net under pressure from Ryan Shotton.

But the Rams were sloppy in possession in the final third, prompting head coach Steve McClaren to switch formation and bring on Jesse Lingard, play him in behind Bent and go with four at the back.

Reading, beaten FA Cup semi-finalists, had little to play but were disciplined in defence and looked dangerous when they ventured forward, but the hosts should have levelled just before the break.

Johnny Russell was bundled over in the box by Jordan Obita but Bent's strike towards the bottom left corner was brilliantly kept out by Federici.

The Rams led the Championship as recently as 24 February but won just twice in their final 13 games of the season

Derby brought on influential striker Chris Martin at the break but it made little difference.

The Royals had by far the better chances, Tarique Fosu seeing a fierce shot saved by Grant, dragging a strike wide and then going close on a third occasion.

The pressure told when Hector fired home after a poor attempted clearance by Shotton, and McCleary's low penalty strike wrapped up victory after Jem Karacan was felled by Grant.

Derby head coach Steve McClaren: "I'm really annoyed, angry, and frustrated about the last two months and am really determined to do something about it.

"I'm not making a pledge, this is how I feel at the present moment. I'm under contract at Derby and I've said that all along. I've been questioned about all the speculation which has been going on for about six months.

"My intention is to sort this out. No one has told me otherwise and until somebody does, that's my determination.

"I'm angry, frustrated, I want to do something about it. I want to sit down with everybody next week, I think it's too raw, too early to make any kind of statement but what I say is what I mean."

Reading manager Steve Clarke: "A lot of performances have been really good but the key moments in the game went against us.

"But today, the key moments in the game went for us and that's the difference.

"The players were stuck in a little bit of a rut and had forgotten how to win a game and today they managed to remember so I've told them when they go away for the summer, don't forget what it's like to win a game. So this is a good way for us to finish."

Bent had scored all three of his previous three penalties for Derby since joining on loan in January

Garath McCleary leads the celebrations after wrapping up a win that means Reading finish the season in 19th place

Derby also suffered play-off heartache last season when they missed out on promotion with defeat against QPR in the final at Wembley

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Derby

• 1GrantBooked at 85mins
• 32ShottonBooked at 66mins
• 6Keogh
• 36AlbentosaSubstituted forWardat 73'minutes
• 3Forsyth
• 8Hendrick
• 37WarnockSubstituted forLingardat 33'minutesBooked at 58mins
• 19Hughes
• 23Ince
• 39Bent
• 11RussellSubstituted forMartinat 45'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Christie
• 9Martin
• 10Ward
• 16Lingard
• 18Sammon
• 21Roos
• 28Rawson

Reading

• 1Federici
• 2Gunter
• 15Hector
• 5Pearce
• 11Obita
• 6NorwoodBooked at 27minsSubstituted forCooperat 90'minutes
• 14Chalobah
• 12McCleary
• 21KaracanSubstituted forWilliamsat 86'minutesBooked at 90mins
• 37StaceySubstituted forFosu-Henryat 30'minutes
• 44Appiah

Substitutes

• 3Kelly
• 10Cox
• 22Blackman
• 23Williams
• 31Andersen
• 35Cooper
• 39Fosu-Henry

Referee:

James Linington

Attendance:

30,806

Match Stats

Home TeamDerbyAway TeamReading

Possession

Home63%

Away37%

Shots

Home10

Away16

Shots on Target

Home3

Away7

Corners

Home7

Away5

Fouls

Home9

Away19

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Derby County 0, Reading 3.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Derby County 0, Reading 3.

Posted at 90'+4'

Attempt saved. Tarique Fosu-Henry (Reading) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Nathaniel Chalobah.

Booking

Posted at 90'+3'

Daniel Williams (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+3'

Tom Ince (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Daniel Williams (Reading).

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt blocked. Tarique Fosu-Henry (Reading) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathaniel Chalobah.

Posted at 90'+2'

Darren Bent (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Jake Cooper (Reading).

Posted at 90'+1'

Will Hughes (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Daniel Williams (Reading).

Substitution

Posted at 90'

Substitution, Reading. Jake Cooper replaces Oliver Norwood.

Posted at 89'

Jeff Hendrick (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Daniel Williams (Reading).

Posted at 88'

Attempt missed. Chris Martin (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

Substitution

Posted at 86'

Substitution, Reading. Daniel Williams replaces Jem Karacan.

Goal!

Posted at 85'

Goal! Derby County 0, Reading 3. Garath McCleary (Reading) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

Booking

Posted at 85'

Lee Grant (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 84'

Penalty conceded by Lee Grant (Derby County) after a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 84'

Penalty Reading. Jem Karacan draws a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 79'

Offside, Reading. Michael Hector tries a through ball, but Kwesi Appiah is caught offside.

Posted at 79'

Attempt missed. Michael Hector (Reading) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Pearce with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 78'

Corner, Reading. Conceded by Ryan Shotton.

Posted at 77'

Chris Martin (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Nathaniel Chalobah (Reading).

Posted at 75'

Tom Ince (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Kwesi Appiah (Reading).

Posted at 74'

Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Jordan Obita.

Posted at 74'

Attempt blocked. Chris Martin (Derby County) header from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Ward with a cross.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Michael Hector.

Substitution

Posted at 73'

Substitution, Derby County. Jamie Ward replaces Raúl Albentosa.

Goal!

Posted at 72'

Goal! Derby County 0, Reading 2. Michael Hector (Reading) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Nathaniel Chalobah following a corner.

Posted at 72'

Corner, Reading. Conceded by Lee Grant.

Posted at 72'

Attempt saved. Tarique Fosu-Henry (Reading) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 71'

Corner, Reading. Conceded by Jesse Lingard.

Posted at 70'

Offside, Derby County. Richard Keogh tries a through ball, but Jesse Lingard is caught offside.

Posted at 70'

Will Hughes (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Kwesi Appiah (Reading).

Posted at 68'

Jeff Hendrick (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Oliver Norwood (Reading).

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