If you strip out the goals I actually thought we done ok first half (with McCarthy keeping us in the game which I'm getting used to) Boro played on the counter most of the half. Problem was we looked so vulnerable every time they broke. Like a lot of games, we plod for ages going forward so slowly and ultimately getting nowhere then the opposition breaks, looks dangerous and scores. Need a stronger presence in midfield and sort our crosses out, so many today went straight off into the stands behind the goal. Pog done ok as a presence up top, McClearly looked lively and Blackman looked on a mission when he came on but not much else to say about the rest of them.
starbug

It was not a fun showing at all. Poor from pretty much everyone, Guthrie was especially lazy. McCarthy stopped it from being a fair few more, but even he was clumsy by his standards. Gorkks was back to being clumsy and dangerous today. Williams was the only player who looked good today. Pog not awful either. Fully back Adkins still, but very questionable subs today. We put a fair bit of pressure on, but like at Leicester we couldn't get any shots away, and that's becoming a real issue. Boro were nothing special.

Fair play to the other fans who showed up, decent support for the game/size of attendance. The ultras section at Boro was cringy as anything (loud though).

After seeing us get beaten 6-0, 5-2 and 3-0 on the road this year I'm beginning to question my sanity in going to each and every game...
Will95

The result was the third Championship loss in a row for the Royals during a disappointing Christmas period, following previous defeats by Leicester and Wigan. Those results have seen them drop to ninth, a point adrift of the play-off positions.

Boro's superior form showed from the start, with Adomah firing in after receiving a Lukas Jutkiewicz nod down in the 12th minute. A second followed before the interval as Leadbitter hammered home from 25 yards. The Royals' fightback at the start of the second period was dealt a serious blow as Gorkss fouled Ledesma to collect a second booking. Initially undaunted by the setback, Garath McCleary and Billy Sharp went close before the hosts regained control of the match. After Adomah shot narrowly over, Boro sealed another triumph for head coach Aitor Karanka when Leadbitter slotted home from 12 yards after Ledesma was felled.

Reading manager Nigel Adkins:
"We have not been anywhere near good enough today, we can't hide from that fact. We started brightly but Middlesbrough countered well to score the first and I'm a bit disappointed with some of the decisions from the referee. Kaspars Gorkss has been sent off and I'm not sure the first was a booking and for the second he didn't even touch the player. Was there a foul in the build-up to the second? Maybe. And the penalty seemed a bit harsh too. But no excuses, we weren't good enough to be where we want to be and that is pushing for the Premier League. We know we need to strengthen in January and we have had injuries but that performance was nowhere near good enough - and it's my responsibility to deal with it."
BBC Sport