Reading claim all three points against a outnumbered Derby side
Derby went down to 10 men just three minutes into the game, after Scott Malone pushed Yakou Meite over in the box, with Malone being given a straight red. Charlie Adam then stepped up and slotted the penalty to his bottom right hand corner to give Reading an early lead. Derby then had a chance to equalise just two minutes later, Tom Lawrence hitting his near post.
Although outnumbered, Derby still posed a threat in the first half, with Duane Holmes pulling the strings. He played a ball over the top for Martyn Waghorn, only for his shot to be saved by Rafael. Holmes also had a shot of his own, only for that to also sting the hands of Rafael.
Reading then stepped up in the second half, knowing they had to do better to see off Derby. And they certainly did, starting very well with some early chances in the second half. Lucas Joao and Sam Baldock linked up well, only for Baldock's shot to be saved by Ben Hamer. Reading continued to create chances and scored again, Lucas Joao slotting home from close range. Derby did attempt to work their way back into the game, with Tom Lawrence hitting the crossbar from outside the area being the closest they came.
Reading kept on going right until the very end and got their just reward, when in the 85th minute Ovie Ejaria intercepted a pass and played through Lucas Joao, only for him to be fouled in the area by Craig Forsyth, awarding a penalty to Reading. Yakou Meite stepped up and following in the same vain as Charlie Adam, slotting home in the bottom right hand corner to secure all three points for the Royals.
This win takes Reading above Derby in the table to 16th, keeping them seven points clear of the bottom three, while Derby go to 17th, equal on points with Reading.
These two next play in the Championship on the 26th of December, with Reading hosting QPR in the evening kick off, while Derby travel to sttuggling Wigan.