Manchester City began life without Roberto Mancini by visiting the Madejski Stadium to face Reading on Tuesday evening.
Last season's Premier League champions dominated for most of the contest, with Sergio Aguero giving the away side the lead just before half-time.
Reading showed great fight to frustrate their opponents in the second half but Edin Dzeko scored late on to ensure that caretaker manager Brian Kidd enjoyed victory just a day after the departure of Mancini.
Read below to find out how events unfolded at the Madejski.
Hello to everyone who joins me tonight for this clash between Reading and Manchester City. The blue side of Manchester are still coming to terms to life without the sacked Roberto Mancini. The Italian's former assistant, Brian Kidd, is in charge tonight but can he bring some joy back to Manchester with a win at the Madejski Stadium.
One thing is certain, City will end the season without a trophy following their FA Cup final loss to Wigan Athletic but it could be a lot worse. Reading supporters are preparing themselves for a return to the Championship but the relegated team could end their home season on a high with a win over the former Premier League champions.
BREAKING NEWS: Big story coming out ahead of this game with the news that David Platt has left Manchester City. Platt, who assisted Mancini alongside Kidd, has decided to follow the Italian out the exit door. Follow the breaking news here - Platt leaves City.
MAN CITY: Hart, Richards (C), Clichy, K Toure, Lescott, Milner, Y Toure, Barry, Silva, Tevez, Aguero
READING: McCarthy, Gunter, Morrison, Mariappa, Kelly, Karacan, Guthrie, McCleary, McAnuff (C), Robson-Kanu, Pogrebnyak
READING BENCH: Taylor, Pearce, Harte, Carrico, Akpan, Blackman, Le Fondre
MAN CITY BENCH: Pantilimon, Maicon, Kolarov, Garcia, Nasri, Rodwell, Dzeko
Kidd makes four changes to the City side that lost to Wigan at Wembley on Saturday as Milner, Richards, Lescott and K. Toure come into the team.
Vincent Kompany misses out tonight and that may just give the Reading attack an extra bit of of confidence but with Silva, Aguero and Tevez all starting, the hosts will have their own problems to worry about.
Nigel Adkins names an unchanged team for the penultimate game of the season. Can the Royals provide a shock tonight?
City have only lost twice in their last 10 league games but they look a club who are desperate for the start of the post-season. If Manuel Pellegrini, who is currently favourite to replace Mancini, is to enjoy success next year then he must improve the spirit around the Etihad.
Pellegrini hasn't got the job yet though and Liam Apicella has taken a look at four other men who could be trusted to replace Mancini: New Man City manager - Five contenders
We're just over 20 minutes away from kickoff but if you want to keep up with tonight's other Premier League match, you can join Joe Fish here: Arsenal vs. Wigan
It's very wet at the Madejski Stadium tonight. I'm not sure if that will have much impact but the damp surface could help City's attacking players.
A late Gareth Barry goal was enough to give City three points when the two sides met in Manchester just before Christmas. Adkins will surely already have an eye on next season but you cannot rule out a win for the Royals tonight.
It's prediction time! The mood may be low at City but I think the visitors will have just enough quality to claim a victory tonight - Reading 1-2 City.
Reading have just had a short presentation on the pitch to award the player of the season award to Adam Le Fondre.
There's a few banners in the away end as City fans choose tonight to thank Mancini. It's Kidd's turn to take charge though and his first game as caretaker manager is three minutes away.
Both teams are ready to begin. The referee blows his whistle and we're underway.
Man City start well as they earn an early corner but the hosts clear and Milner then strikes an effort high over the crossbar.
City have relaxed at the Madejski and Reading just haven't started. The visitors enjoy a long spell of possession on the edge of the box and Silva is close to breaking through the defence.
Reading finally begin to pass the ball around and they're able to move further up the pitch but City are dealing with the threat easily.
CHANCE! Milner beats two defenders before picking out Aguero on the right side of the box but the striker is denied by McCarthy.
CHANCE! Aguero misses another opportunity as he fires an effort straight at McCarthy following good work from Silva.
It's all City at the moment and Reading cannot afford to let this match continue in the same fashion for much longer.
Kidd cannot sit still on the touchline as he keeps coming off the bench to shout orders at the team.
SUBSTITUTION: Kolo Toure is in a bit of pain after going to the ground unchallenged. It looks like he'll have to come off and it's Maicon who replaces the Ivorian.
Reading have looked much better in the last couple of minutes as they begin to pass the ball about very nicely in midfield. Can they find a way through this City defence?
CHANCE! Kidd will be beginning to worry slightly as Robson-Kanu drills a shot just wide of Hart's post.
Adkins is starting to see a response from his players, with Karacan and Guthrie both showing great desire to win the ball back on separate occasions. City threaten to break but Morrison does well to clear Milner's cross.
City wrestle back control from Reading and substitute Maicon is beginning to look dangerous as he raids down the right side.
Milner once again looks the most likely to unlock this Reading defence as he finds some space on the right but his final ball is poor and he fails to pick out Aguero or Tevez.
Gunter finds Robson-Kanu, who uses his trickery to create space but Barry does superbly to clear the winger's delivery.
Superb from Aguero as he skips past three Reading defenders before releasing Clichy, who misses everyone with his cross.
SHOT! Robson-Kanu turns Barry in the middle of the pitch but his speculative effort from 30 yards out flies over the crossbar.
CHANCE! McCleary showcases his frightening pace as he bursts into the box and forces Hart into a good low save.
Reading are impressing following that nervous start but they miss out on creating an opportunity when Lescott catches Robson-Kanu before dispossessing his opponent.
City launch a great counter attack and Tevez sees a close range header superbly saved by McCarthy. The flag was up but the Reading goalkeeper deserves credit for that stop.
Toure is being forced to pick the ball up from deep due to Reading's persistence to regain possession in midfield. It's clever play from the hosts but they must take any opportunity they get.
CHANCE! Guthrie and McCleary exchange neat passes and the latter picks out Robson-Kanu but his controlled effort is kept out by Hart. Big opportunity for the hosts.
YELLOW CARD! McCleary is an obvious threat to this City side as he breaks through midfield but Barry stops his progress with a cynical foul and rightly goes into the book.
The weather is absolutely dreadful tonight. It's spoiling the atmosphere a bit but it doesn't stop Barry winning a goal kick under big pressure from two Reading players.
GOAL! READING 0-1 MAN CITY (AGUERO)
Milner and Silva show their ability as they combine brilliantly to find Aguero, who takes his opportunity by passing the ball into the bottom corner. Reading's resistance is broke, can they respond?
CHANCE! Aguero has burst into life now as he beats Mariappa before having a drilled effort saved by McCarthy.
Man City are finishing the first half just as they started it but Reading need to keep their opponents out until the interval.
Silva and Milner exchange passes again but the former is uncharacteristically wayward with his final delivery.
HALF-TIME: READING 0-1 MAN CITY
Man City head into the break leading thanks to Aguero's smart finish late in the first half. Last season's champions have certainly been the better side but Reading will be annoyed that they couldn't take their own chances.
McCarthy has been in superb form for Reading recently and he showed his promising talent once again in that first half. Saves from Aguero and Milner mean that Reading still have a chance.
In tonight's other game Arsenal are currently level at 1-1 with Wigan at the Emirates Stadium.
Adkins will be happy that his side are just one goal behind at the moment because City have had the possession to be further ahead. City must take their chances and Reading need to create some more of their own.
Both teams are back out at the Madejski Stadium. It will be interesting to see Reading's response early in the second half.
City get the second half underway. No change for either side during the interval.
City start well following the break with Aguero threatening with his pace but Morrison does well to dispossess the forward.
Milner seems to be finding space every few seconds in this game tonight. The England international wastes an opportunity from the right though as he sends a wayward cross over his teammates.
CHANCE! Tevez tricks his way through two Reading defenders before firing a low drive across the area to force McCarthy into a good stop.
CHANCE! Pogrebnyak has barely been involved all night but he almost pulls his side level with a great diving header. However, Hart reacts superbly to keep the ball out.
City regain control following that Reading chance and Tevez should do better when he pulls a cross back behind the advancing forward players.
Toure starts a move with a great burst of pace through the midfielder and almost finishes it perfectly but he can't control Aguero's header inside the box.
CHANCE! Toure is gifted too much space on the edge of the box and attempts to curl the ball into the bottom corner but McCarthy is once again in top form as he tips the shot away from danger.
SUBSTITUTION! City make their second change as Barry departs to be replaced by Javi Garcia.
Morrison has been superb at the back for Reading tonight. He tracks Aguero well to prevent the striker from converting Milner's dangerous cross.
Tevez drifts out wide before exchanging passes with Silva but the forward is wayward with his shot as he fires the ball into the stands.
SUBSTITUTION! Pogrebnyak walks off the pitch and is replaced by Le Fondre.
SUBSTITUTION! Aguero has been limping for the last couple of minutes and Kidd decides to give him a break as he sends on Dzeko.
McCleary cannot be faulted for his effort as he sprints down the wing once again, beating Maicon in the process. However, there's little support for McCleary and he soon loses possession.
City look like they might double their lead as Tevez breaks free of the Reading defence but the flag is raised and the forward is offside.
McCleary delivers a dangerous cross deep into the box and Clichy's poor header puts the visitors under more pressure until Hart leaps highest to take a good catch.
SUBSTITUTION! Neil Blackman is introduced to the game as he replaces McAnuff.
Blackman makes an immediate impact as he wins a corner but Guthrie's delivery is poor and City are able to clear.
CHANCE!: Dzeko is a handful for the Reading defenders as he creates space for himself before firing at goal. McCarthy reacts well to keep hold of the ball.
CHANCE! Toure unleashes a superb effort at goal but the midfielder is left in disbelief as McCarthy dives to tip the ball over the crossbar. Brilliant display from the young man tonight.
Hart also deserves credit for his performance tonight, even if he hasn't been as busy as McCarthy. Guthrie's cross is headed across goal but England's number one reacts first to collect the ball.
CHANCE! McCleary fires a shot at goal but Lescott gets a block in to concede a corner. Mariappa heads towards goal but Tevez is in the right place to clear the ball off the line.
Dzeko shows his wild side as he collects a pass from Tevez before hitting one of the worst shots I've seen this season into the stands.
Reading should be proud of the effort they've put in during this second half. Guthrie delivers another corner but Dzeko does enough to clear the danger.
Good move by Reading as Guthrie finds Karacan in space but his 25-yard effort is kept out by Hart, who is happy to push the swerving ball away.
City launch a counter attack as they look to put the result beyond doubt. The move comes to a disappointing end though as Toure slices a shot wide.
CHANCE! City work a short corner well to find Toure in space and he fires a long range effort at goal. Guess what happened? Yes, that's right. McCarthy throws himself to the right to tip the ball over the crossbar. Stunning goalkeeping.
GOAL! READING 0-2 MANCHESTER CITY (DZEKO)
It's all over now at the Madejski Stadium. Reading give the ball away and Silva picks out Dzeko just inside the box. The Bosnian makes no mistake this time as he takes a touch before slotting the ball past McCarthy.
Reading have been much better in the second half and they are still trying to attack. Two minutes of stoppage time to be played.
CHANCE! There's still time for one more brilliant save to be made by McCarthy. Tevez plays the ball into Dzeko before taking it back and firing the ball towards the bottom corner but he's denied by a another fingertip save.
FULL-TIME: READING 0-2 MANCHESTER CITY
City win their first game since the departure of Mancini and they've certainly deserved three points tonight. Reading battled until the final whistle but they just didn't have enough to worry the visitors tonight.
That is Reading's final home game of the Premier League season. The Royals will hope that their absence from the top flight doesn't last too long.
Mancini may have gone and we're yet to find out who the Italian's replacement will be. However, we have once again seen the quality that this squad possesses and you can be sure they'll be contenders once again next season.
Thanks for joining me for the game tonight and make sure you return to SPORTS MOLE on Sunday as we take you through the final day of the Premier League season. Goodnight!
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
