READING FC were given a cruel reminder of the harsh nature of the Championship as they fell to a 2-1 defeat on the opening day of the season at Birmingham City – with Orlando Sa failing to convert a 95th minute penalty.

It looked like Steve Clarke's men were going to grab a deserved point when Simon Cox was bundled over in the penalty area by David Davis, but Sa's tame penalty was pushed away by Tomasz Kuszczak and Cox fired the rebound wide.

A draw would've been a fair result for a Reading side that controlled long periods of the game but it wasn't to be as in a similar story to so many times last season, they failed to take their chances when presented.

A deflected free-kick from Dave Cotterill and a Jon Toral header did the damage for the home side – despite Nick Blackman's header setting up a frantic last half hour that saw Reading twice hit the bar and miss a penalty.

Clarke's side went closest in the 78th minute when Aaron Tshibola's effort crashed against the bar and onto the line.

Despite looking like it had crossed, it wasn't given and Reading were left to rue another slice of misfortune.

Sa's penalty added salt to the wounds for the Royals as it seemed they had done enough to grab a draw but it wasn't to be on a day of frustration at St Andrew's.

There were a couple of big calls for Clarke to make pre-match and the biggest surprise was that Anton Ferdinand was dropped to bench after an impressive pre-season.

It was thought that the centre-back had forced his way into the first-team but the Royals boss brought Paul McShane back in – and made him captain in the process.

The other decision for Clarke to make was between the sticks and he opted for Jonathan Bond over the experience of Ali Al-Habsi.

Elsewhere, Sa started up front and it was his surging run that saw the Royals go close in the fifth minute.

He was brought down just outside the box and Oliver Norwood's free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar and went over as Royals threatened early on.

Reading were in total control early on and keeping the ball well, but they failed to turn their possession into clear cut chances as Sa was often crowded out.

Clarke's men were keeping the ball well and rarely look troubled in defence, and they again went close in the 35th minute.

McShane poked a Norwood corner towards goal but Tomasz Kusczcak pushed it into the path of Tshibola, who had an open goal just two yards out but a superb recovery tackle saw the midfielder denied.


Birmingham had created next to nothing but against the run of play, they took the lead in the 42nd minute when Cotterill's free-kick was deflected beyond Bond.

It was harsh on Reading but they only had themselves to blame for creating a lack of chances and things went from bad to worse just three minutes after the break.

Less than three minutes had been played when Toral headed home Clayton Donaldson's floated cross to double the hosts' advantage.

The goal briefly knocked Reading's confidence but they continued to push forward and got their reward when Blackman headed home Chris Gunter's cross in the 58th minute.

It was a fine header into the top left-hand corner and from that moment onwards, it was all Reading.

Danny Williams saw a low, driven effort go narrowly wide before McShane headed against the crossbar from a corner.

The real moment of controversy came in the 78th minute as Tshibola's drilled strike crashed against the underside of the bar and onto the line.

It looked like it had gone in but despite protests from the Royals, the linesman was on the edge of the box and couldn't be sure if it was in.

Reading poured forward late on and were given the perfect chance to equalise when Cox was brought down, but they couldn't take the opportunity as Sa's weak penalty was saved.

Attendance: 19,171 (1,406 Reading)

Reading: Bond, Gunter, McShane, Hector, Obita; Tshibola (Samuel 86'), Norwood, Quinn (Cox '83), Willians, Blackman (Robson-Kanu '79); Sa. Subs: AL-Habsi, A.Taylor, Ferdinand, J.Taylor, Cox, Samuel.

Birmingham: Kuszccak; Grounds, Kieftennbeld, Gray, Gleeson, Donaldson, Cotterill, Toral (Shinnie '72), Spector, Morrison, Caddis. Subs: Legzdins, Robinson, Maghoma, Novak, Shinnie, Davis, Thomas.