Hello and welcome to today's live match blog.
Bristol City make the short trip across the M4 this afternoon looking to build momentum following their victory over West Brom during the week. It was a committed, resolute performance but it will mean little if the Robins can't back that up with a result against Paul Ince's side.
Their opponents head into the contest without a win in their last four games although they have exceeded expectations this season. Reading were one of the favourites for relegation at the beginning of the campaign but currently sit in 10th, one point above City.
Nigel Pearson is expected to keep the same side that beat West Brom in the week which means opting for the flat three in midfield and Andi Weimann on the bench. Defender Kal Naismith remains injured with a calf problem.
We'll bring you all the build-up, live match action and reaction throughout the stay so stay tuned and continue scrolling down below.
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Key Events
The Championship table
Not all bad... still only four points adrift of the playoffs.
Nigel Pearson's thoughts
The City manager was not happy at all with his side's performance, accusing them of daydreaming and being careless.
"We have players who have hit one level midweek and performed miles below that."
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How did you score the players?
Use our player rater below to mark the City team out of 10.
The player ratings
Here's how they rated... not good enough, I'm afraid.
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That's it - full-time
The referee puts us out of our misery and there can be little complaints with the scoreline on a disappointing afternoon.
Reaction to come.
How it happened
City done on the counter-attack as Long has the pace to get past Klose. He surges into the box and plays a perfect ball into Carroll who makes no mistake.
Six minutes added on...
Still time but City aren't creating anything clear-cut at the moment...
Off the line
Atkinson to the rescue! Reading have plenty of numbers forward and the ball is squared to Ince who is unmarked. He looks certain to score but the City defender is in the right place at the right time.
Much better
City are pressing, finally! Weimann gets into the box and almost has a golden opportunity from a few yards but the defender makes a last-gasp challenge.
He's looked good since his introduction.
It's getting feisty
Martin's involved in an argy-bargy with his man before Pring goes into the book for pushing Ince off the pitch as Reading looked to counter attack.
Dasilva off...
He's been replaced by Cam Pring for the final 20 minutes of this game.
O'Leary has a nervy moment outside of his box as he scuffs a clearance but manages to escape.
Chance for City
This is more like it as Weimann gets space to surge into the box. He spreads it to Dasilva whose cross at the backpost looked for Martin but the defender just gets there in the nick of time.
Conway then goes into the book for a foul on his man in the Reading half.
Chance!
Close as Sykes smashes it wide of the target. It's a long punt forward by Vyner and Conway battles for it.
It drops to the wing-back who can't get a proper connection on the strike. City are adamant there was a handball in that and they surround the referee.
It would have been slightly harsh from my viewing.
Triple sub
Interesting one here... Pearson making three changes.
Semenyo, Wells and Williams have come off with Conway, Martin and Weimann coming on.
That must reflect the disappointment in his side's performance so far.
How it happened
Far from good enough. A corner from the right and Loum is allowed a free run at the ball on the near post and he glances his header into the net.
Looked like it was Vyner who lost his runner.
Close
It's Meite who goes relatively close as his strike from around 20-yards flies past the right post. Semenyo and Wells haven't really clicked this afternoon.
Sykes is offside as he looks to get a delivery into the box.
Back underway
Let's hope for some excitement in this second half because that was a pretty poor watch...
Half-time player ratings
Max O'Leary - 6
Zak Vyner - 7
Timm Klose - 7
Rob Atkinson - 5
Mark Sykes - 6
Jay Dasilva - 6
Matty James - 6
Joe Williams - 7
Alex Scott - 6
Antoine Semenyo - 6
Nahki Wells - 6
Half-time Reading 0-0 City
There goes the whistle just after a Reading corner and there's very little to say after that 45 minutes.
Reading perhaps have had the better of the chances with Joao going close in the opening couple of minutes. Up the other end, well... City haven't created an awful lot.
Reading's tactics
As soon as City get the ball, they completely drop off and allow them with the space to pass it about in defence.
They retreat to a back five and City are finding it very difficult to force their way through and create chances.
Could be set up for Weimann in the second half...
Wells gets through...
Semenyo with a lovely knock inside for Wells who smashes an effort across goal. The flag did go up on the far side.
Joao is causing some issues in the air up against Klose, it's been a really intriguing battle so far.
Dasilva...
He's getting into some good positions on the left but his delivery hasn't quite cut the mustard so far and that's been a frustration.
Atkinson's also had a couple of very nervy moments in this game.
Wells has a chance to get a delivery in but it's way overhit and goes out for a goalkick. Sums up the game so far.
Chance
A glimpse of goal for Reading as Joao finds Hendrick with the header but the strike on the edge of the area is easy for O'Leary to deal with.
All a bit flat at the moment...
Pearson's animated
The manager looks animated on the touchline. He wants his players to move it quickly from side to side.
Reading aren't really putting much pressure on the ball and City are comfortable in possession but without the urgency to get it to Semenyo and Wells.
The hosts are happy to sit deep so the onus is on City to be creative going forward.
Good work, Semenyo
He shows his pace and power to skip past his man and charge forward. He lays it off to the left where Dasilve is lurking and the cross comes in towards Wells but the defender just gets there in front.
Close
That was nervy! It's fizzed into the box and Scott glances it on before Matty James heads over his own crossbar from a few yards out.
Reading have a succession of corners but Sykes manages to head two of them clear.
Danger
Timm Klose brings down Joao on the edge of the box and Reading will have a chance on the angle to whip one in...
City up the other end
It's a bit of a mix-up in the Reading backline as Wells almost gets in behind. The keeper can't collect the ball under pressure from the forward before a defender boots it against his own player when trying to clear.
City look settled now after that early scare. Dasilva had a corner moments before that but it failed to get past the first man.