Reading 0-2 West Bromwich Albion: Baggies make perfect start to post Steve Bruce era
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Taylor Gardner-Hickman celebrated his first senior goal to help West Brom win
Goals from Matt Phillips and Taylor Gardner-Hickman secured managerless West Bromwich Albion only their second Championship win of the season to deny Reading the chance to go joint top.
Following the sacking of Steve Bruce on Monday, interim Baggies boss Richard Beale could not have asked for a better start to his spell in charge.
Midfielder Matt Phillips opened the scoring midway through the first half with a fine strike after going past a Reading defender in the box.
The second goal came against the run of play, with the home side enjoying their best spell in attack, Taylor Gardner-Hickman dispossessing Jeff Hendrick and drilled his shot into the bottom corner for his first senior goal.
Victory sees the visitors move out of the relegation zone and up to 20th, with Reading dropping a place to sixth.
Heading into this fixture West Brom were eight games without a win and without a victory away from home this season, down in 22nd place.
They were in need of a spark but found it against a streaky Reading side that has struggled to maintain form of late.
Both sides were energetic from the opening whistle but it was the visitors who created more chances going forward.
Grady Diangana looked certain to double West Brom's lead at the beginning of the second half when he found the ball at his feet in the box but he was shut down by a Royals defender before he could get a shot away.
Reading then started having a real go and called West Brom's back four into action for the first time. Tom Ince with perhaps their best chance of the match beat his defender and fired a shot on target, but it was not enough to really trouble Alex Palmer - who made some decent saves to keep a clean sheet.
When Gardner-Hickman ran through and stole the ball from Jeff Hendrick the writing was on the wall. He repelled two closing defenders and drilled in the second goal before running off to celebrate in-front of the travelling fans.
Even under Bruce the Baggies were running games close, with eight draws to their name, and they have had no trouble scoring this season, with 19 goals now.
Reading boss Paul Ince, who did not travel with the team due to illness, will be disappointed as his side had only dropped five points from seven home Championship matches prior to this game.
Reading assistant manager Alex Rae speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire:
"Utterly disappointed to lose today. Very disappointed. I think we did well enough to get something out of the game.
"The second half was better and much more like us. We worked their keeper and forced him to make some important saves.
"We've got a few injuries and a few players out due to illness, including the manager, but it's more of a precaution really."
West Brom interim manager Richard Beale speaking to BBC Radio WM:
"Fantastic to get the three points, everyone in the changing room and around the club is delighted. There are a lot of good people here who deserve a lot of credit.
"Coming away from home, it's never going to be plain sailing, and Alex Palmer pulled off some great saves - it was a great team effort.
"We need to get on a run and pick up points fast. Wins bread confidence and they're good lads so hopefully we can get some more points going forward."