Match ends, Reading 2, Bristol City 3.
ReadingReading2Bristol CityBristol City3
Bristol City claimed their first Championship win since March as they survived a late Reading rally.
Nigel Pearson's Robins were 2-0 up inside 14 minutes after Chris Martin headed on for Andi Weimann to score the opener before the big target man then found the net himself.
Femi Azeez quickly pulled one back only for Weimann to restore City's lead early in the second half with a neatly-taken finish.
But the visitors then had to survive 13 minutes after Reading skipper Liam Moore made it 3-2 late on before they could celebrate their first victory since 13 March - a winless run in all competitions going back 15 games.
City had so far picked up just one point this season after following a 1-1 at home to promoted Blackpool on the first day with a 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.
But they made a great start when Martin headed on and Weimann's header found the top left corner.
It was the Austrian's first goal of the season - and his first since returning from nine months out following surgery on his anterior cruciate knee ligament.
On 14 minutes, Cameron Pring then headed on for Chris Martin to score from close range but Reading got one back five minutes later when Ethan Bristow created an opening for Azeez.
He found the top left corner with a shot from the right side of the six-yard box for his second goal in successive games.
City restored their two-goal cushion seven minutes after the break when Alex Scott squared from the right and Weimann jinked his way around the keeper to tuck the ball away from six yards.
On 81 minutes, John Swift set up Moore, who found the bottom corner for his second goal in three games.
But the Royals, who recovered from an opening-day 3-2 defeat at Stoke to beat Preston 2-1 on Saturday, could find no further way through.
Reading boss Veljko Paunovic:
"It was tough that we conceded two very early goals. We expected that City's plan was going to be direct play, looking for the second balls to get set-pieces from and long throw-ins.
"We were preparing for that but, obviously, City had a little bit of the 'luck' factor with their first goal - the rebound from the throw-in goes towards their player.
"Unfortunately, when it got to that point, they controlled us. But the reaction from the team at 2-0 down was good and we kept pushing right to the end."
Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"I'm very pleased with the collective effort. We've had to wait a long time for this and it was an important three points for us but we still created issues for ourselves.
"Conceding late goals means that controlling the anxiety levels is going to be visible but we still coped with it pretty well.
"And Andi Weimann and Chris Martin looked very good together playing in a 4-1-1. We looked good on the break and created some good opportunities. Andi probably thinks he should have had a hat-trick."
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 33Cabral Barbosa
- 17Yiadom
- 4Morrison
- 6Moore
- 5McIntyre
- 8Rinomhota
- 28Laurent
- 30Azeez
- 10Swift
- 41BristowSubstituted forDele-Bashiruat 45'minutes
- 47PuscasSubstituted forClarkeat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Holmes
- 16Tetek
- 19Dele-Bashiru
- 22Southwood
- 32Camara
- 37Leavy
- 39Clarke
Bristol City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Bentley
- 2Simpson
- 22Kalas
- 5Atkinson
- 3Dasilva
- 6JamesBooked at 90mins
- 10KingSubstituted forMassengoat 51'minutes
- 36ScottSubstituted forPalmerat 67'minutes
- 14Weimann
- 16PringSubstituted forBakerat 76'minutes
- 9Martin
Substitutes
- 12O'Leary
- 15Bakinson
- 17Baker
- 21Wells
- 26Vyner
- 42Massengo
- 45Palmer
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
- Attendance:
- 14,207
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamBristol City
- Possession
- Home68%
- Away32%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 2, Bristol City 3.
Post update
Foul by Andy Yiadom (Reading).
Post update
Daniel Bentley (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Matty James (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Josh Laurent (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Martin (Bristol City).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Dele-Bashiru (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Laurent.
Post update
Attempt saved. Andreas Weimann (Bristol City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Kasey Palmer (Bristol City) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kasey Palmer (Bristol City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jay Dasilva with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Dele-Bashiru (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Robert Atkinson.
Post update
Attempt saved. Femi Azeez (Reading) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andy Rinomhota.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Andy Yiadom (Reading) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom McIntyre with a cross.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Liam Moore (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by John Swift.
Post update
Tom McIntyre (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Kasey Palmer (Bristol City).
Goal!
Goal! Reading 2, Bristol City 3. Liam Moore (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by John Swift.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom McIntyre (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by John Swift.
Comments
Join the conversation
Reading are a very ordinary side but not as bad as their terrible support - swathes of empty blue seats everywhere apart from the away end. Where are all the bandwagon jumpers who went to games when they were in the Prem?
Really embarrassing.
BBC Berkshire predicted a Royals win as Bristol City hadn’t won since mid March.
Waylon immediately placed a wager on a Bristol City win
Money to money
Ya know what I mean !
I can’t help but think :
suffering breeds character
Desperately need to get a full back in before the window is out, and probably get Puscas’ wages out the door too, offered absolutely nothing.
Winless in 14 matches explains the fortunately brief "how s*** must you be, we're winning away" by the away fans, a chant I dislike.
Apart from one mind numbingly dull season under Stam our record at home record is abysmal over the last decade, which makes it a miracle that any of us still turn up. With Meite out for the season and Joao out until January it's going to be a long season.