Bristol City fell to defeat at the hands of Reading thanks to a solitary goal from Jason Roberts despite being impressive at times in an even game at the Madejski Stadium.
The big talking point came on the 58th minute of the match, when Louis Carey was sent off for a foul on Jason Roberts in the box.
Roberts, making his debut after arriving in Berkshire from Blackburn Rovers in the week, saw his penalty kick saved by David James, but within a couple seconds had converted the rebound.
Albert Adomah came closest for City, hitting the woodwork before James pulled off another penalty save in the dying minutes from Jobi McAnuff’s kick.
Derek McInnes made one change from last weekend's winning side against Doncaster Rovers.
Ryan McGivern came in for Neil Kilkenny to fill the left-back slot which was void after Richard Foster had moved to right-back in place of Cole Skuse who was on midfield duty.
Adomah and Yannick Bolasie once again supported lone front man Chris Wood after the system worked ever so well against the Yorkshire club.
The away team started the brighter of the two sides. Chris Wood went close with a headed effort after McGivern’s cross but ex-Robin Adam Federici did well to tip the ball over the bar.
On the seventh minute the Reds went close again, Stephen Pearson's drove low but Federici was on hand again to turn wide.
James was called into action for the first time soon after when Michail Antonio shot into the ‘keeper’s feet before Alex Pearce and McAnuff both headed wide of the mark in a frantic start.
Reading grew into the game and started to spray the ball around at more ease thereafter. Noel Hunt went close after the lively Antonio's right-wing cross before City switched the momentum again.
Albert Adomah reminded the host’s back line as to why he has been linked with Premier League club’s this transfer window after an acrobatic effort in which Federici did well to reach.
The first half then died down, with the crowd and players alike resorting to parity before the action heated up again just before the interval.
Wood and Adomah both had long range efforts watched wide for the reds either side of Roberts heading wide from McAnuff's cross.
Hunt then theatrically fell inside the box right in front of the travelling 1700 plus travelling City fans who took no liking to the forward’s embarrassing attempts to win the home side a penalty.
Jem Karacan had the last chance of the first half snatching at an attempt at a James-less City goal after the keeper punched away a McAnuff corner before the referee brought an impressive 45 minutes for both teams to a close.
Bolasie started the second half brightly creating a chance for Wood only to once again find Federici at his best.
The open contest continued as this time Karacan headed straight at James as both teams were wondering what it would take to beat the in form men between the sticks before the all important moment of the match.
Carey was penalised for hauling down Roberts after the striker had began to pull the trigger. The decision to award the penalty seemed the right one but to then send the experienced defender in for an early bath with at least two defenders covering the away side’s goal, seemed harsh to say the least.
Roberts dusted himself down to take the spot-kick and with James initially guessing the right way to save the weak strike, the ex-Bristol Rovers man bundled the rebound into the empty net.
The unfortunate Bolasie was the man sacrificed to allow youngster James Wilson to take Carey's place at the heart of City's back four, while Skuse was handed the captain's armband.
The lively five minute spell allowed the previously quiet Reading’s fans to find their voices but this didn’t spark their team into more promising passages of play.
Instead it was the away side that rolled up their sleeves and put in a ‘backs to the wall’ performance for the remaining minutes.
A man down, City surprisingly seemed more comfortable in possession and a quick break away allowed Wood to lay the ball off to Adomah, but his curling shot unfortunately did just too much to bend against the inside of the post and somehow stay out.
Nicky Maynard and Kilkenny replaced McGivern and Kalifa Cisse, with the former’s arrival receiving a mixed reaction from the away contingent after spending all season turning down new contract offers from the club.
Cisse was warmly applauded off of the pitch by both sets of supporters after impressing for Reading in his near three year stint at the club, but the two changes didn’t change the outcome of the match, despite City putting everything into the remaining minutes.
There was still time for James to impressively save Reading’s last-minute penalty – his second penalty save of the game – but the 41 year old’s heroics to deny McAnuff’s effort did little to lift the spirits in the camp who should hope for better luck next week against play-off contenders Leeds United at Ashton Gate.
Reading: Federici Griffin Pearce Gorkss Cummings Karacan Tabb McAnuff Antonio (Cywka 82) Hunt Roberts (Church 77)
Substitutes: Andersen, Harte Cywka, Le Fondre, Church
Bristol City: James Foster Carey Nyatanga McGivern (Maynard 85) Skuse Cisse (Kilkenny 88) Pearson Adomah Wood Bolasie (Wilson 58)
Substitutes: Gerken, Wilson, Kilkenny, Maynard, Pitman
Ref: Miller
Att: 17,825 (1,720 Bristol City fans)
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