Change for Reading. John Swift off, Alfa Semedo on.

Image source, Rex Features

Ovie Ejaria saunters down the left for Reading, after Andy Rinomhota left Jack Wilshere in a heap for a brief moment.

Ball comes into Lucas Joao and moves onto Michael Olise but his cross is cut out.

Was just about to say Reading had lost their supremacy in midfield which had been key to Bournemouth's improvement.

But they've edged it back again past five minutes.

Jason Tindall snapping out instructions to his players, he's heartened by their reply.

Josh Laurent gives him a bit of concern as he drives down the right for the home side but his cross is hooked away.

Bournemouth starting to make their crosses count a bit more, as Reading had their number for the first 15 minutes of the half.

David Brooks very much the outlet down the right.

But Jason Tindall's side are quickly running out of time.

Image source, Rex Features

Couple of big saves from Rafael in the Reading goal.

First clawing away the effort from Philip Billing, and then likewise turning Steve Cook's header away.

Beats away a corner and then goes down. Came through the mob to get there and it's a chance to take the sting out of things.

Pinball in the Reading box and Tom Holmes plays draft excluder, almost horizontal in the box to block Chris Mepham's shot and the rebound effort from Josh King fizzes behind.

Desperate times mean desperate measures.

Bournemouth getting tons of crosses in but those blue and white hoops just keep making the key intervention.

Reading defend their goal as the free-kick is nodded behind.

David Brooks sweeps a corner to the back post inswinging from the right but Josh Laurent can just allow it out for the goal kick.

Having survived the Bournemouth response, Reading will perhaps push on a bit more now.

Bournemouth charge down the right through Josh King who arrows towards goal, the angle for a shot is cut off but the cross is banged in, but Andy Rinomhota deflects it over the bar.

Reading clear the ball in reply. But Rinomhota then gives a free-kick away and Bournemouth will load the box.

Test of Steve Cook's fitness is passed as he shepherds the ball behind for Bournemouth's goal-kick, despite the presence of Andy Rinomhota.

Royals Serbian boss Veljko Paunovic, who speaks better English than most of my old schoolpals, still looks a bit agitated despite a healthy lead.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Rex Features

The only other EFL game this evening has just finished in League Two and it's Scunthorpe who come away with all three points.

Alfie Beestin's fifth-minute goal was the difference at Colchester.

It's a third win on the bounce for the Iron who climb to 14th, while Colchester drop to 16th. That's nine games without a victory for them.

Adam Smith has the ball pinched off him and big centre-half Michael Morrison bombs forward for Reading.

Ovie Ejaria holds it up on the left and cuts back to John Swift who swipes over.

Steve Cook is struggling for the visitors and he's the type of bloke they need. Would be a blow for him to go off.

Bournemouth impose themselves.

David Brooks scoots infield but Josh Laurent gets a foot in, the ball breaks to Josh King on the left, and he tees up Lewis Cook.

He ended a four and a half year wait for a goal against Reading in the corresponding fixture, but his shot this time zips wide.

Ovie Ejaria uses an 'Inspector Gadget-esque' telescopic leg to keep the ball in play for Reading as a free-kick is pumped forward and then cuts it back to John Swift.

He zings a shot at goal but it's welcomed into his midriff by Cherries goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Dominic Solanke drives in-field and spreads the play to the left as Bournemouth seek to find a route into the game.

Josh King collects, but his diagonal pass slides through to Rafael Cabral in the goal.

Another attack sees David Brooks clip over the top for Josh King to race in but it's shepherded behind.

The Cherries playing like they've got nothing to lose.

Adam Smith has been busy since coming on, heading over the bar and slamming into Tom Holmes as they competed for a header.

Last time I saw that kind of thing it was in a circle pit at a Sick of it All gig.

No place for that in the EFL...

Bournemouth win a corner in their first attack of the half.

David Brooks bends it in and Adam Smith meets it in the air but it drifts over the top.

That's more like it.

Perhaps unsurprisingly Bournemouth have made three changes at the break.

David Brooks is on as Arnaut Danjuma makes way, Jack Wilshere is on for Jefferson Lerma (who I scarcely remember mentioning), while Adam Smith replaces Diego Rico.

We're back on and Reading are in possession.

Reading have lost their past five league games against Bournemouth.

This will surely buck the trend?

Alan Pardew was the last Royals boss to win against the Cherries, and their current boss Jason Tindall was on the losing side as a player that day in April 2001.

The only real shining light for Bournemouth would be Arnaut Danjuma, and even he lost his mojo after 20 minutes.

Talismanic skipper Steve Cook has tried to gee the visitors up but it's been off-colour across the board.

Will they start to play with the game seemingly gone?

Well, I wasn't expecting that.

Everything about Reading was first-class in that opening 45.

Defensively Michael Morrison had them well-organised.

The two full-backs Omar Richards and Tom Holmes got forward to support plus there was excellent width from Michael Olise and Ovie Ejaria.

Lucas Joao is just Lucas Joao. That's his 18th in all competitions.

The unsung heroes in Andy Rinomhota and Josh Laurent got amongst Bournemouth and stopped them playing too.