Matt Crooks is sent off for Middlesbrough.

What a let-down for Boro. Short corner routine sees Marcus Tavernier club his cross into the shins of the closing Reading player.

His look of frustration and irritation sums up Boro's efforts.

Junior Hoilett picks up the ball on the edge of the box after good work from Baba Rahman, but the Reading striker's shot was always rising over the top.

At the other end, Boro force another error from a Reading side dilly-dallying at the back.

Corner.

Lovely play from Toyosi Olusanya. Ball pinged out to him on the Boro right, he brought it down and eased beyond Baba Rahman, who is booked for it.

The free-kick, pumped diagonally is nodded in brilliantly by Dael Fry but Matt Crooks cannot connect with the knock-back.

Boro have a new found presence. Crooks wins a free-kick edge of the box. Nothing comes of it.

Image source, Rex Features

Reading just showing signs of the sharp, slick football that can open teams up with one touch, snappy play with willing runners.

The likes of Tom Dele-Bashiru, Ovie Ejaria and John Swift are fluid, exchanging positions and creating doubt in Boro minds.

Meanwhile, Boro have Duncan Watmore on for Andraz Sporar.

Matt Crooks to lead the line?

Reading in blanket defence mode to keep Boro at arms length, but they don't want to invite too much pressure.

Matt Crooks is the aerial target for Boro.

Duncan Watmore being readied for the visitors.

Desperate save from Luke Southwood in the Reading goal.

Lee Peltier's cross is kept alive and Marcus Tavernier drills in a low cross.

Matt Crooks gets a toe to it, which smacks off the head of Southwood, and the bundling effort from Abdul Rahman-Baba just about clears the lines for the Royals.

Boro's best chance, barring Matt Crooks' disallowed goal.

Reading's Ovie Ejaria gets a fortuitous free-kick as a 50-50 tussle with Lee Peltier results in Boro's defender being penalised.

Neil Warnock leaps up, animated and raucous. The fans jeer his fury.

Image source, Rex Features

Andraz Sporar and Matt Crooks combine, with the former released on the edge of the box but his shot soars wide and high.

Middlesbrough still tapping away, but Reading the side in front.

Boro got plenty of numbers into the box as Marc Bola set up for the cross, but his hanging delivery was plucked up by Luke Southwood.

On the back of that, Reading try to pass their way out from the back and just about cope with the desperate press.

Veljko Paunovic must sit rather uncomfortably when their side do that. The fans certainly do. Especially when Boro snatch possession in dangerous areas and go into attack mode.

Sometimes, as Peter Kay used to say, "Have it!" If in doubt, boot it out.

Reading looking really sharp on the break, and Tom Dele-Bashiru is chewing up the yards in midfield.

The Royals were swarming as another move kicked into life but the referee's assistant's flag shot up and any progress denied.

Image source, Rex Features

Interesting introduction, as Toyosi Olusanya comes on. He, like Isaiah Jones, came from non-league, albeit with a league background, from Billericay.

He actually had a trial at Reading earlier in his career.

Lee Peltier blocks off Ovie Ejaria and wraps a forearm in his throat for the yellow.

James Lea Siliki and Toyosi Olusanya are on for Boro, Martin Payero and Isaiah Jones make way.

Armed with the confidence of a goal, Reading are now subjecting Boro to 'death by a 1,000 passes'.

On the back of that, they suddenly hit top gear.

Ball forward to Junior Hoilett, he goes on the outside of his man but his shot across Joe Lumley is saved low to the keeper's left.

On the back of the goal, Reading scorer Alen Halilovic tries to play in John Swift and picks him out, but neither he, or Ovie Ejaria can get a telling effort away.

Halilovic has a pop... wide.

Reading with some silky 'one-touch' work their way into the box but as Ovie Ejaria gets within range, he treads on the ball and it squirts away to safety.

Reading love to play out from the back but Boro's press makes it difficult.

Goalkeeper Luke Southwood fluffed his clearance. Boro got a throw and Marcus Tavernier found half a yard to snap a shot which was blocked.

Eventually Reading clear their lines, but they can't afford to dawdle.

Dejan Tetek joins Isaiah Jones in the book after a foul on his adversary. It's 1-1 now in that department.

The free-kick is floated in but Luke Southwood gets a flailing arm to it.

Reading survive.

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