Reading 1-0 Coventry City: Amadou Mbengue header earns Royals victory on return
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Amadou Mbengue scored his first senior goal in his eighth Reading appearance after a summer move from French side Metz
Amadou Mbengue's first senior goal gave Reading a fortuitous home win over Coventry.
The Royals hit the second-half winner against the run of play when Tom McIntyre headed Tom Ince's corner goalwards to Mbengue, who nodded in from three yards.
Michael Rose had almost put City ahead moments before when he glanced a near-post header from Gustavo Hamer's corner against the far post.
Coventry, who had four straight wins before the World Cup break, carried the greater threat in the first half, with Callum O'Hare's long-range half-volley forcing a good save from Joe Lumley.
The interruption to the season came at a bad time for the Sky Blues after a run of seven wins in nine had lifted them into mid-table, but it provided timely respite for Paul Ince's side, who had slid out of the play-off places after a run of two victories in 10.
Mbengue's goal gave Reading a seventh home win of the campaign and was the first Coventry had conceded on the road since a 2-2 draw at Luton on 14 September.
City seemed to quickly regain their momentum, with Viktor Gyokeres denied a clear shot on goal by Andy Yiadom's crucial challenge, and Hamer sending a free-kick inches past the post.
The Royals started with midfielder Baba Rahman and striker Junior Hoilett back from World Cup duties with Ghana and Canada respectively.
Yet the home fans had to wait until first-half stoppage-time for their first effort on target when Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson pushed Yakou Meite's header around the post.
Lumley's reaction save prevented an Ince own goal before Mbengue put Reading in front - ending City's run of four clean sheets - but the visitors continued to threaten afterwards without reward, as O'Hare pulled a shot wide when well-placed before the Royals keeper parried Ben Sheaf's effort.
The Sky Blues do not yet know where they will play next Saturday's game with Swansea after being served with an eviction notice from their Coventry Building Society Arena home.
Reading boss Paul Ince told BBC Radio Berkshire:
"Being away for four weeks, you don't really realise how tough it is, but I thought we started the game really sharp.
"I thought, in the first half we were very good. Second half we came back poorly, we were slow for some reason, I'm not sure why.
"The game plan, I thought, was spot on. We knew they would get to our final third, they've got some nice one-twos, give and go's, runners, but we dealt with that most of the game.
"We got a bit fortuitous when they hit the post, but on the balance of play it was always going to be one of those games which could go either way."
Coventry City manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:
"I think that performance on any other day could have got us three points, certainly a point. I thought it was harsh on us not to get anything from it.
"We were playing really well and thought we came out in the second half and were really on top and then we concede a goal really against the run of play.
"It was the first set-play goal we've conceded all season so for that to happen and us to lose the game on the back of it was really disappointing.
"You could tell we needed a game. That sharpness in the final third, I think from both teams really, was lacking, but I thought we were really good."