BACK ON TRACK: JOÃO AND MORRISON NET IN AWAYWIN
Bristol City 0-2 Reading
It was a slowburner of a half, butwith a common theme as Reading dominated control of the ball.
Lucas Joãowas often the target of some hopeful long balls, but the first ofwhichwas overhit from Michael Olise as he searched for the top scorer.
Tomas Esteves, whowas deployed further forward on thewing, ventured forward into the box and battledwell but no one could get on the end of his cross before the ball broke to the opposite side and Omar Richards’ looping cross was cleared.
Esteves then must have thought he had opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when an aftermath of a corner broke hisway and he fired a volley goalwards, but it was blocked by a crowd of Bristol defenders.
Bristol were struggling to have any sustained possession as Andy Yiadom got forward into the box and pulled the ball back for Ovie Ejaria, who almost beat goalkeeper Daniel Bentleywith a deflected effort that dribbled justwide of the post.
Ejaria then danced hisway past a defender and got into the box on thewide left and pulled the ball back for Omar Richards whose shot looked destined for the net butwas hooked off the line by Jack Hunt.
An opening goal looked inevitable for the Royalswho continued to create chances and they finally found the breakthrough in the 42nd minute through Lucas João who netted his 20th goal in all competitions this season.
Olise’s free-kickwas met by Joãowho took an immaculate first touch before firing the ball past Bentley at the near post to give the Royals a deserved advantage.
Michael Morrison burst through the centre of the pitch, traded a passwith Joãowho flicked the ball into his path.
The defender impressively finished the move as he broke into the box and found the net via a deflectionwhich looped up and over the Bristol keeper.
The Royalswere back on the front foot and Alfa Semedo came inches away from making good enough contact in the middle after a brilliant run and delivery from the left by Richards.
Chances kept coming the way of the visitorswhowere failing to punish Bristol in the second-half as Olise brought Reading forward and slipped the ball to Esteveswho had his shot blocked behind for a corner.
The resulting corner presented a chance for Tom McIntyrewho raced onto the delivery from Olise and forced Bentley to put it behind for another corner.
Reading held out to earn three points in a dominant display as they also earned their 13th league clean sheet of the season.
Readingwill be looking to avoid three successive home defeatswhen they host eighthplaced Middlesbrough at the Madejski Stadium on
Saturday (3pm). They are also away toWycombe on Tuesday.
BRISTOL CITY: Bentley, Hunt, Kalas (c), Moore, Mariappa, Vyner, Nagy, Lansbury, Paterson, Wells Diedhou SUBS: O’Leary, Towler, Sessegnon, Massengo, Bakinson, Pearson, Palmer, Semenyo, Bell
READING: Rafael, Yiadom, McIntyre, Morrison (c), Richards, Rinomhota, Semedo, Ejaria, Esteves, Olise, João SUBS: Southwood, Moore, Gibson, Holmes, Tetek, Onen, Aluko, Baldock, Puscas
GOALS: Lucas João 42′, Morrison 45′