Match ends, Reading 1, Bristol City 0.
ReadingReading1Bristol CityBristol City0
Nick Blackman's stoppage-time goal was enough to give Reading victory over Championship strugglers Bristol City.
Reading's top scorer ran on to a Danny Williams pass and shot low past City goalkeeper Frank Fielding to net for the 13th time this season.
City failed to hit the target as Luke Freeman came closest early on when he hit the side netting.
Matej Vydra had a number of chances for the home side, as did Blackman before he eventually got the winner.
The victory was the second for Reading manager Brian McDermott since taking over on 17 December and ended a run of one victory in their last seven games as they moved up to 12th place in the Championship.
City have now won just twice in their last 14 league games, a record stretching back to the middle of October, and are in the final relegation place by virtue of goal difference.
Reading controlled much of the opening period with Jake Cooper, Vydra and Oliver Norwood all going close.
Orlando Sa and Williams had efforts blocked after the break, while Vydra headed straight at Fielding and Blackman headed over before getting the late winning goal.
Reading manager Brian McDermott:
"Matej could have scored two or three goals today. He worked his socks off, he kept putting himself on the line, which was really important. He never hid.
"And he's made an unbelievable tackle late in the game. He gave the ball away, ran after it, made that unbelievable tackle and then gave a terrific pass to Garath (McCleary). In a way, that tackle has been a match-winner for us.
"I'm delighted for Matej and the whole group. It's all about belief and confidence. But the win will give us that little bit extra confidence. To get it so late, it's a big, big win."
Briston City boss Steve Cotterill:
"We played very well today. Collectively, we've got a lot of young lads who are learning the hard way at this level.
"The players are giving me everything they can possibly give me. Today was just one of those painful defeats."
"It was disappointing to concede their goal. At the time, we were the team that were looking for three points. I thought that we were the team in the ascendancy."
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 26Al Habsi
- 2Gunter
- 5McShaneSubstituted forFerdinandat 31'minutesBooked at 71mins
- 35Cooper
- 3TaylorSubstituted forRobson-Kanuat 73'minutes
- 23Williams
- 6NorwoodBooked at 88mins
- 22Blackman
- 7Vydra
- 21QuinnBooked at 66mins
- 10SáSubstituted forMcClearyat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Bond
- 9Robson-Kanu
- 12McCleary
- 15Ferdinand
- 17Piazon
- 34Keown
- 41Liburd
Bristol City
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Fielding
- 5Ayling
- 4Flint
- 17BakerSubstituted forMooreat 42'minutes
- 13Bennett
- 21Pack
- 15FreemanSubstituted forReidat 82'minutes
- 7Smith
- 23Bryan
- 18Wilbraham
- 22KodjiaSubstituted forBurnsat 90+2'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Little
- 10Agard
- 11Wagstaff
- 14Reid
- 16Moore
- 20Burns
- 24O'Leary
- Referee:
- Darren Handley
- Attendance:
- 19,677
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamBristol City
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away0
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 1, Bristol City 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Wes Burns replaces Jonathan Kodjia.
Goal!
Goal! Reading 1, Bristol City 0. Nick Blackman (Reading) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Danny Williams.
Post update
Offside, Bristol City. Elliott Bennett tries a through ball, but Jonathan Kodjia is caught offside.
Post update
Offside, Bristol City. Korey Smith tries a through ball, but Jonathan Kodjia is caught offside.
Booking
Oliver Norwood (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Oliver Norwood (Reading).
Post update
Marlon Pack (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Williams (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Joe Bryan.
Post update
Attempt missed. Chris Gunter (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Garath McCleary.
Post update
Stephen Quinn (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jonathan Kodjia (Bristol City).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Bobby Reid (Bristol City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Bryan.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Bobby Reid replaces Luke Freeman.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Liam Moore.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nick Blackman (Reading) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hal Robson-Kanu with a through ball.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nick Blackman (Reading) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nick Blackman (Reading) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Garath McCleary.
