Reading 0-1 Bristol City

Centre-back Aden Flint netted five goals for Bristol City last season

Aden Flint's late strike, in his first start of the season, gave Bristol City a narrow victory at Reading.

The defender, the subject of numerous bids in the transfer window and played just twice in August, beat keeper Vito Mannone with six minutes left.

Sone Aluko enjoyed a lively debut for the hosts at the Madejski Stadium, twice shooting narrowly wide of Frank Fielding's far post in the second half.

Flint's goal gave City their second Championship win of the season.

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The hosts had the better of the first half with Fielding forced into a brilliant save as he tipped Leandro Bacuna's strike round the post.

With the last goalless draw between the two sides back in 1929, substitute Dave Edwards almost broke the deadlock for Reading on his debut, but was just too high from Aluko's pinpoint cross.

Jamie Paterson was sent clear but could only shoot wide as the away side wasted their best chance to open the scoring.

However, Flint made the Royals pay as his volley ended their 15-match unbeaten home run.

Reading manager Jaap Stam: "Everyone needs to take responsibility when you make that pass or when you are in front of goal and when you get that ball.

"We had plenty of opportunities to score and that's what it's all about. It's a cliche but if you don't finish them off yourself, the opposition eventually scores and that's it.

"We knew what City are like - they're a good side - and they didn't want to let us play and get into our comfort zone.

"That's what they did at times and they did it well. It was harsh that we lost, especially as it was at home."

Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson: "You want your best available squad to work with and obviously Aden is an established Championship player.

"I've had a very honest and open relationship with him leading up to the closing of the transfer window and, to be fair to him, he's never thrown his toys out of the pram.

"I was really pleased with the performance. It was great to have an international break before so that we could really prepare for this game.

"It's about getting the players' mindsets right, to be confident and not fearful of the opposition. And I thought we did that today. I'm really chuffed."