Half-Time Report: Demarai Gray scores three as Birmingham City lead Reading at half time

A hat-trick from teenager Demarai Gray has given Birmingham City a 4-1 half-time lead over Reading.

Birmingham took an early lead when a well-worked free kick found Paul Caddis on the edge of the box and he fired a shot past a helpless Adam Federici.

Reading almost hit back immediately but both Simon Cox and Glenn Murray hit their close-range efforts straight at the goalkeeper.

The Blues doubled their lead in the 10th minute as Gray latched on to Andrew Shinnie's pass and beat the keeper with a shot from outside the box after a solo run.

Reading responded shortly after as former Crystal Palace striker Murray looped a header from Gareth McCleary's cross into the back of the net, but Birmingham restored their two-goal lead when Gray pulled a low shot into the bottom corner after a loose ball fell for him in the middle of the box.

Reading had a second goal disallowed after Simon Cox was judged to be offside before he set up Murray, before Gray completed his hat-trick after Birmingham counter-attacked and he slotted the ball home on the stroke of half time.