GOALS from Mamadou Loum and Andy Carroll ended a run of three defeats as Reading defeated Bristol City 2-0.
Loum’s bullet header put the Royals ahead after 52 minutes before Carroll secured the three points late into added time.
Paul Ince made two changes from the side which succumbed to Swansea City on Tuesday night with Baba Rahman and Lucas Joao coming into the starting eleven.
Tyrese Fornah dropped to the bench with Andy Yiadom suspended for receiving five yellow cards throughout the campaign, meaning Tom Holmes captained the side.
Meanwhile, Nigel Pearson’s team was unchanged following their 2-0 midweek victory away to West Bromwich Albion.
In the opening minutes, Tom Ince collected a loose pass and advanced down the right and his eventual cross was glanced wide by the head of Yakou Meite.
The Royals continued their bright start with dangerous deliveries from Junior Hoilett and Ince which were eventually cleared.
With 20 minutes played, Reading had their first shot on target.
Meite flicked on an Amadou Mbengue throw for Hendrick to volley from 18-yards, but his effort was easily collected by Max O’Leary.
The visitors had their first half-chance of the game three minutes before the break when Antoine Semenyo fired high and wide from a tight angle.
Straight after the interval, Meite found a yard of space and drilled a shot just wide of the post from 25-yards.
After 52 minutes Reading took the lead through their eighth corner of the game.
Ince whipped in the cross and Loum rose at the near-post and directed a bullet header beyond O’Leary for his first Royals goal.
Bristol City reacted with a triple substitution with Tommy Conway, Andreas Weimann and former Reading loanee, Chris Martin entering the fray.
The changes had an immediate impact with all three combining to provide Weimann an opening which he sliced wide of Joe Lumley’s goal.
Reading should have doubled their lead on 66 minutes with an overload on the counter-attack.
Joao cut in from the left but couldn’t get his shot away and was eventually crowded out by the Robins’ defence.
This was the last action of the game for the Angolan who was replaced by Shane Long.
The visitors made a further two changes with Tommy Pring and Andy King entering the game as they continued to search for an equaliser.
With less than five minutes remaining Reading had a golden chance to double their lead.
Jeff Hendrick collected the ball on the edge of the box and squared it to Ince but his shot was saved by the legs of O’Leary.
Four minutes into six of added time the Royals secured the three points.
Long advanced down the left and squared the ball to fellow substitute Carroll, who fired home from six-yards.
Reading: Lumley, Mbengue, Holmes ©, McIntyre, Baba Rahman, Hoilett, Loum, Hendrick, Ince, Meite, Lucas Joao
Subs: Bouzanis, Abbey, Guinness-Walker, Fornah, Ejaria, Long, Carroll
Bristol City: O’Leary, Vyner, Klose, Atkinson, Sykes, James, Williams, Dasilva, Scott, Wells, Semenyo
Subs: Bentley, Pring, Tanner, King, Weimann, Conway, Martin
Goals: Loum (52), Carroll (90+4)
