Bristol City 0-2 Reading

Garath McCleary's goal was his first in the league since the final day of last season

Bristol City dropped to second-from-bottom in the Championship as they lost 2-0 at home to Reading.

Reading controversially took the lead when Nick Blackman, who City felt was offside, was put through on goal by Garath McCleary and shot home.

McCleary made it 2-0 shortly afterwards as his powerful low drove from almost 30 yards beat Frank Fielding.

City rarely troubled the Royals' defence and they still look for a first home win since promotion last season.

Reading moved into the play-off places thanks to the victory, which was their third in four games.

The Royals' opening goal caused consternation on the Bristol City bench as Blackman's curled left-footed effort took a deflection off Derrick Williams and nestled into the bottom corner.

Blackman was offside in the build-up to the goal, but was deemed not to be interfering with play as a pass from deep found McCleary on the right, with Blackman getting back onside as he received the ball from McCleary.

There were no such doubts for Reading's second soon after as McCleary was given far too much space by the City defence as he blasted home from distance.

City's Aaron Wilbraham had an appeal for a penalty turned down before on-loan Chelsea defender Michael Hector produced a goal-saving challenge to deny City's Jonathan Kodjia.

The home side had another penalty claim turned down 10 minutes from full-time after Kodija went down under a challenge from Paul McShane, while the Frenchman hit the post from close range after Kieran Agard's cross fizzed across the face of goal in the final minute.

Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill: "We felt hard done by with the first goal and thought there was an offside leading up to it. Until then we had begun brightly.

"It hurt us badly and we just need one or two decisions to go our way at the moment.

"We had a bit of bad luck hitting the post, but I'm not sure we did enough on the afternoon to deserve anything.

"There wasn't the normal zip to our passing. I put that down to fatigue, rather than lack of confidence and we will keep encouraging the players to be positive because there is a long way to go in the season."

Reading manager Steve Clarke: "To control any Championship game as we did today takes some doing and the team deserve enormous credit.

"We got ourselves in front early on and, while we could have had more goals, you won't find me complaining.

"I know Steve Cotterill was unhappy with our opening goal, but I was too far away to see if it was offside and people I have spoken to say it wasn't."

Nick Blackman gave Reading an early lead...

... to the consternation of City manager Steve Cotterill