Reading dominated for long periods against an unadventurous Birmingham City but lacked the guile, creativity and ruthlessness to make their possession count.

In the end - in an almost predictable ending - they were left without even a point as a Clayton Donaldson header seven minutes from time was enough to settle the contest and condemn Reading to their ninth home loss of the season.

The Royals have scored three goals in eight home league games since January – firing a blank in six of those.

Clarke will already know that Reading require a massive shuffle upfront in the summer but tonight only served to re-emphasise their need for real quality to be brought in ready for next season.

It was a night that was meant to show support to Adam Federici after his blunder at Wembley and he came so close to a clean sheet that would've meant so much to him.

But it wasn't to be and Steve Clarke is left to reflect on another home reverse as Reading remain 19th in the Championship.

Clarke made four changes to the Reading side that battled so heroically against Arsenal four days earlier.

Jake Cooper, Jem Karacan, Nathan Ake and Nick Blackman all came in for Alex Pearce, Danny Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and Pavel Pogrebnyak.

It was a nice blend of youth and experience from Clarke and the midfield three of Ake, Karacan and Nathaniel Chalobah got an early grip on the contest to see Reading create the better chances early on.

Garath McCleary had the first real chance of the game when he cut inside and opened up an opportunity for himself in the 13th minute but he scuffed his effort wide.

Reading were on the front foot and Nathaniel Chalobah was excelling in central midfield, breaking up the play and dictating the home side's attacks.

He found Karacan with a lovely ball in the 21st minute, who in turn found Mackie but the on-loan forward was off target with his strike.

The duo were again involved four minutes later when Chalobah's improvised flick to keep a corner alive was met by Mackie whose stabbed effort was blocked before Blackman's follow up was also cleared.

Reading were well on top at this point and Chalobah twice tested Randolph before McCleary also forced a fine save out of the 'keeper as Clarke's side dominated proceedings.

The visitors were still a threat though and they proved that in the 36th minute when Grounds forced a smart save out of Federici when he headed Paul Caddis' corner towards goal.

It had been a decent half by the Royals but they struggled to take that into the second half and chances were at a premium as Birmingham dug in and stifled their opponents.

Just like they did against Bournemouth last week, Reading enjoyed a lot of possession but struggled to create any real chances.

Clarke reacted by bringing Jack Stacey and Kwesi Appiah on just after the hour mark but they failed to make an impact on the game.

Chalobah again tested Randolph but he comfortably tipped the long-range effort over the bar, before turning away a Stacey curler just minutes later.

As the game wore on, the visitors grew in confidence and sensed an opportunity to grab all three points.

Demarai Gray – who scored a hat-trick against Reading in December – entered the fray in the 77th minute and it took just a minute for him to force a fine save from the outstretched leg of Federici.

The Reading 'keeper then made a fine save to push Andrew Shinnie's low effort wide but the Blues nicked it from the resultant corner.

Stephen Gleeson whipped a cross in and Donaldson nipped in at the front post to head beyond Federici and condemn Reading to yet another home defeat.

Reading Federici; Gunter, Cooper, Hector, Obita, Ake, Chalobah, Karacan, McCleary (Appiah '63), Blackman, Mackie (Stacey '63). Subs: Andersen, Kelly, Akpan, Norwood, Stacey, Appiah, Novackovich.

Birmingham Randolph, Grounds, Gleeson, Donaldson, Thomas (Gray '77), Tesche, Kiernan, Spector, Morrison, Caddis (Dyer '63), Fabbrini (Shinnie '34). Subs: Doyle, Cotterill, Novak, Shinnie, Davis, Gray, Dyer.

Referee Lee Mason

Attendance 14, 604 (689)