Reading 2-0 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from Madejski Stadium

City's inconsistent form continued as two first-half goals from an inspired Gylfi Sigurdsson helped Reading to a 2-0 win at the Madejski Stadium.

The Icelandic international forward should have scored a hat-trick - or more - in the first period, but would have been more than happy to make do with a brace.

The first, a header on 12 minutes, was quickly followed from the penalty spot and City were left with a mountain to climb.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce saw City's best chance of the game saved by Royals stopper Adam Federici on the hour, but in truth Reading also missed chances to seal all three points in an open second 45.

City had gone into the match with the rare luxury of an unchanged line-up following the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace five days earlier.

Lee Johnson takes one of a few shots for City in the match

And the visitors could have taken a third minute lead when Campbell-Ryce broke down the left and cut a dangerous ball back across goal. Liam Fontaine came charging in but missed his kick completely. There was still an opportunity for Bradley Orr to pull the trigger but he dragged a left-footed effort wide of the mark.

Sigurdsson signalled his intentions with a 25-yard free kick just wide of the post on ten minutes. However, Reading needn't wait much longer for their opener.

A storming run from Ryan Bertrand ended with a ball to Jobi McAnuff on the right edge of the penalty area. The former Watford winger clipped a cross towards the middle and Sigurdsson leapt unchallenged to head in the first goal of the afternoon.

Sigurdsson looked a real threat for the home side, playing in the hole behind striker Shane Long, and he guided a Jimmy Kebe cross into the arms of Dean Gerken soon after.

It got worse for City on 21 minutes as a harmless-looking challenge from Paul Hartley on Sigurdsson saw the Reading man hit the deck. Referee Paul Taylor had to decide whether the infringement took place in or outside of the box, and he opted to award a spot-kick. A pumped-up, in-form Sigurdsson never looked like missing and although Dean Gerken guessed the right way, the power of the penalty kick saw the ball nestle in the net.

Now sniffing a hat-trick, Sigurdsson almost bagged his third goal of the game on 37 minutes when Gerken had punched clear Brian Howard's corner. The Icelandic attacker fired his shot into the ground and towards the top corner only for Hartley to deny him with a goal-line clearance.

Danny Haynes was brought on at half-time with City 2-0 down

Campbell-Ryce provided some respite for City with a 30-yard shot that Federici could only parry wide for a corner.

But Reading were soon back on the front foot as McAnuff shot wide from distance, and then Sigurdsson passed up another opportunity to bag a hat-trick just before the break.

Bertrand's pass into the box found Sigurdsson in the clear. Gerken pounced well to block Sigurdsson's stabbed effort and the ball rebounded back into the face of the Reading man before dropping wide of the post.

There was still time for one more big opportunity in first half stoppage time as Howard whipped in a free kick and Mills, with a free header, just guided his effort over the top.

Gary Johnson opted to make two changes at the break with forwards Chris Iwelumo and Nicky Maynard withdrawn, with Danny Haynes and John Akinde introduced.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce is distraught after his second-half miss

After a slow start to the second half, on 56 minutes Gerken and Orr covered well to smother a chance for Kebe inside the box.

Almost immediately at the other end Orr's hooked ball forward put Campbell-Ryce in the clear. The City winger managed to wrestle away from the back-tracking defender Bryn Gunnarsson and force a chance inside the penalty area. However, the giant frame of Federici denied Campbell-Ryce with an impressive save.

Gerken provided a similar diving denial at the other end on the hour when Howard lashed a shot towards the bottom corner. The ball rebounded out to Shane Long, who was presented with an open goal, but the Irish striker missed the chance to seal the win by shooting over the top.

Long wasted another chance when Bertrand's cross was completely missed by the unmarked striker in the centre of the goal. Kebe did warm the gloves of Gerken with an angled shot from distance.

A curling left-footer from skipper Louis Carey on the edge of the box was all City could muster in response as Reading ran out comfortable winners in Berkshire.