But midfielder Leandro Bacuna pounced midway through the second half to give the home side a rare victory.

Reading had lost four of their previous five matches and won only three league games all season.

But winger Mo Barrow returned to the starting XI after a three-game internal suspension due to a breach of club discipline.

City had won only two of their past eight Championship outings yet began the match just three points outside the play-off places.

The contest opened in an untidy fashion, with neither side able to offer anything constructive going forward.

There was a brief moment of alarm when Meite and City defender Tomas Kalas fell to the ground after a nasty clash of heads. However, both were quick to rise after receiving treatment.

Meite was clearly unaffected by the collision and guided Reading in front in the eighth minute.

Kelly threaded a pass into the City area and the ball fell nicely for Meite to beat goalkeeper Max O’Leary with a low shot. It was his fifth goal of the season.

City failed to respond immediately, with Reading in control and creating a series of half-chances.

But Andy Yiadom, Kelly and Bacuna all drove efforts over the crossbar. It proved costly, with City drawing level in the 23rd minute.

Jack Hunt’s clever pass set up the unmarked Pack to comfortably beat home keeper Sam Walker with an angled shot.

Reading regained their lead one minute into stoppage time, when Kelly curled home a superb effort from 20 yards.

But two minutes later, again before the break, City equalised when Brownhill bundled home from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

The game became increasingly open in the second period, with Walker having to save from Kalas’ long-range effort.

Bacuna, at the other end, was blocked out when in a promising position, then Eliasson blazed over when on a slick City counter-attack.

Reading gradually upped the tempo and were rewarded in the 66th minute through a well-worked move.

Bacuna exchanged excellent passes with Barrow before drilling a low shot past O’Leary.

City replied positively and were a shade unfortunate not to find a third equaliser when Brownhill struck an upright in the closing stages.

Walker also did well to stop a fierce effort from City substitute Andreas Weimann to secure Reading’s win.

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