Report from the Reading Evening Post:

Reading were left hovering just a point off the bottom of the Division 2 table after conceding a last-gasp goal in a 2-1 defeat by 10-man Stoke City on Saturday. Nicky Forster had fired Royals in front shortly after the break when he latched onto a defensive mistake and slotted home seven minutes into the second half. But instead of building on that lead Reading were again caught out by lapses at the back as Nicky Mohan and Anders Jacobsen clinched all three points for the Midlanders.

John Gorman, Royals’ caretaker assistant manager, said: “We’re pretty disappointed. We were very comfortable – until we took the lead. “It’s amazing what our goal did for Stoke. They suddenly found something extra and became more positive and they did start to cause us problems.” Gorman, though, felt his side invited trouble, adding: “We defended too deep but in all fairness it was a great strike to beat Phil Whitehead. He had looked solid before that in his first game for us. And from then on things went in their favour.”

Although Stoke’s equaliser was fully deserved, Reading looked as though they had ridden the storm and hopes of nicking a victory were raised when the home side were reduced to 10 men. Kyle Lightbourne was red carded with 18 minutes to go for a second bookable offence. But with just seconds remaining Royals substitute Jimmy McIntyre conceded a free kick out on the left and Jacobsen nicked the points when he crashed home the header.

Gorman said: “It was a bad free kick to give away but the team should have shut up shop and at least got a point. “To be fair some of the defending was very brave but we invited trouble and we don’t feel they should have been allowed to put us under that much pressure.” Potters boss Gary Megson said: “Reading must have thought they had done enough to get a point away from home but I was pleased with the way we finished the game. “I know things aren’t going sparkling for Reading at the moment but they looked a useful side and it took a great deal of effort to get a win.”