Reading's amazing run of eleven league matches without defeat had to come to an end eventually, but that still didn't stop it being a massive disappointment. The home fans leaving the ground after Reading were beaten 1-3 by Bristol City, in front of the second biggest Madejski Stadium crowd of the season, were far from happy. Everyone knows that if automatic promotion is to be ours this season we just have to keep winning. But it wasn't all bad from the Royals, despite the wrong result. Bristol City may have just about deserved their victory - but they should also consider themselves very fortunate to leave with the full three points after Reading battled hard. Up until we went 1-3 down it always looked like Reading might get something out of the game.

Reading put on a display of maximum effort and created plenty of chances to score, if Butler's or Cureton's attempts on goal had gone in during the second half then it mights have been a different story. Every player was working hard and we were treated to a decent game of football - until it all went seriously wrong with twenty minutes left to play. Bristol City's third goal sealed the result and killed Reading off - it was clear to see the heads drop and from that moment there was no way back for the Royals.

The most notable change in the line up for the Royals was Darren Caskey being left on the bench and Murty being pushed up to play on the wing with Newman and Robinson as full backs. Jamie Cureton was left on the bench in favour of Tony Rougier starting up front alongside Martin Butler. Any doubts about leaving Cureton on the bench were soon forgotten after Reading got off to a great start. It took the Royals just nine minutes to take the lead after Harper fed the ball through to Graeme Murty playing further forward than his usual role. Murty collected the ball and unleashed it from way outside the area it flew in, off the base of the right post and into the back of the net. What a goal, what a start. A packed Madejski Stadium exploded into life.

After the goal Reading briefly looked like they might grab another with Rougier getting himself into a couple of scoring positions up front - but the first half quickly settled into a midfield battle. Phil Parkinson again deserves another special mention. He was nothing short of brilliant throughout the whole game. We've said it a million times before - but it's all to do with effort. He might not be blessed with the skill of someone like Tony Rougier, but he was always there winning the ball and laying it off to someone else to allow us to build up another attacking move. He was flying in all over the place winning back possession whenever it was lost. Every now and again he'd arrive a bit too late leaving the City player knowing he'd been "Parkied" - but there's never any intention apart from to help Reading win the game.

With Reading winning the midfield we looked comfortable right up until City scored the equaliser right on half time. City broke down the left wing and took it right to the line where Murty was beaten. The player cut towards goal and then the ball was played low into the middle and stuck home right in front of Phil Whithead and Matt Robinson. The goal was a real blow - but at half time every home fan would still have been confident of a home win, despite City starting to get more and more into the game.

Right after the break Reading got back into their pattern and went on the hunt for another goal to regain the lead. It looked like we'd got it about five minutes into the half when Rougier stormed through the middle and knocked the ball to his left in the path of Martin Butler. Butler steamed into the left side of the area before shooting across the goal and beating the City keeper. For a minute it looked like it was in before hitting the base of the far post and away to safety. Reading were starting the second half just like the first half - clearly on top. After a couple of attacks Reading earned the first corners of the game with Parkinson getting in a shot on target that was pushed away for the second corner of the game.

With things looking good for the Royals the away side then went and took the lead. It was a simple enough goal after a couple of Reading players all collided just outside the area. The ball was pushed from the middle wide out to the City right. From there the ball was crossed into the middle where there wasn't nearly enough pressure on the attacker. With Reading seemingly a bit short in defence it was an easy header that beat Whitehead to make it 1-2. The Bristol City fans went mental - it was the goal that kept their play-off hopes well and truly alive.

Again Reading responsed with some more attacking football looking to pull level. Rougier, who had started to look a bit tired, was replaced with Cureton. The Cureton and Butler partnership seemed certain to grab a goal at least. Half way through the second half it looked like we'd get the important come back goal. McIntyre crossed from the left deep into the area to find Butler, over the head of Cureton who had worked his way into the middle of the box. For a moment it looked like Butler might stick it in, but instead he headed it back into the middle for Cureton. Cureton met it with his head - but it flew just over the crossbar. If that had gone in perhaps we'd have gone on to get the winner. Unfortunately City had their own plans and after looking dangerous on the break they again made it count as the Reading defence seemed to crumble. The ball was worked quickly into the Reading box and it was 1-3 to City.

Darren Caskey came off the bench with time running out, and his first touch of the ball was a poor ball pumped pointlessly forward straight into the arms of the Bristol City keeper. That was followed by another couple of mistimed passes, and then it was clear we had lost the game and the eleven match unbeaten run was coming to an end. City had been content to play out time at 1-2 up, but a 1-3 it was a suprise they didn't go on and add another. The last twenty minutes might as well not have happened with the away team looking far more dangerous as Reading collapsed - with about five minutes to go they almost made it 1-4, but Whitehead made a good save from a close range effort.

So a huge disappointment, but we had to lose at some point. Another away win at Swindon Town on Tuesday will mend the damage and we can continue to dream of winning the Championship. We're capable of winning the league and now is definately not the time to give up on that dream.
Graham

Following report from Neil Cole:
For the second time this season, Bristol City managed to end our fine run of results by comfortably beating the Royals. Reading were out to avenge the 4-0 thrashing we received at Ashton Gate earlier in the season, but instead they were beaten once again by City and missed the chance to close on the league's top two. The only consolation came on Saturday, as Oxford did us a massive favour by beating Rotherham at the Manor. The weekend's results show that none of the top three are infallible, and the end of the season is going to be unbelievably tense.

Surprisingly, Alan Pardew opted to change the side that had won at Wrexham the previous weekend. Darren Caskey can't really argue with being dropped after a number of below-par performances, as Pardew tried to strengthen our attacking options on the right. Ricky Newman returned at full-back, and Graeme Murty was moved forward to take Caskey's role on the right of midfield. Adi Viveash was missing once again, so Barry Hunter kept his place in defence.

One of the biggest crowds of the season turned out, as over 15,000 came along to the Madejski Stadium. The Maurice Evans Stand was sold out, and Bristol City sold most of their allocation of tickets. It was the Reading fans who were cheering first, as Graeme Murty scored his first goal of the season after just nine minutes. It was just the start we needed in such an important game, and should have calmed any nerves the players were feeling. The goal was a brave long-range effort from Murty, who isn't exactly known for his shooting abilities. He didn't hit this one perfectly, but it was enough to beat the City keeper and went in off the post.

Reading looked comfortable for the rest of the first half, but again it seemed like we were lacking something up front. Pardew still hasn't solved the problem of what exactly to do with Anthony Rougier. He is undoubtedly a very talented forward, but when he starts up front with Butler the combination just doesn't seem to work. Rougier always end up out wide, leaving us very few options in the middle at the culmination of an attack. Yet there should be no chance of Rougier returning to left midfield, with Jim McIntyre playing so well.

After defending well in the first half, Reading should have gone it at the break in the lead. However, a lapse in concentration allowed City to equalise on the stroke of half-time. A cross from the left picked out Tony Thorpe, and the ex-Reading loanee was unmarked and had a simple finish. The players went into the break on level terms, and the goal allowed City to take the initiative as the second half commenced.

Bristol City were the better side for most of the second period, and it was no real surprise when they took the lead. A cross from the right picked out Peacock, whose header flashed past Phil Whitehead in the Reading goal. Yet, Reading could have had the lead themselves shortly before that, when Martin Butler was unlucky enough to see his shot hit the post.

At 2-1 the game was quite open, and the Reading fans were hopeful of an Oxford style comeback. With Jamie Cureton coming on for Rougier we immediately began to make some chances. Cureton himself had the best opening of the second half, but he put his header over the bar. The comeback failed to appear, and when City scored their third the game was over. Again it came from an attack down the City right, and Bristol substitute Matthews finished well to win the points for his side.

Bristol City became only the third side to take all three points from the Madejski Stadium this season, and the result keeps the top few sides very close as we enter the season run-in. With Rotherham losing as well we shouldn't write off the teams below us, as a lot could happen in the next ten games. This defeat makes the Swindon game on Tuesday even more important, and it is vital the Reading players bounce back and beat our local rivals.

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