ORLANDO Sa went from hero to villain following his needless red card in tonight's defeat to Derby County.

The £1 million signing from Legia Warsaw was shown a straight red by referee Andy Davies for aiming a headbutt at Rams' defender Jason Shackell.

The incident happened on the stroke of half time, leaving Royals to battle with 10 men for the entire second-half.

And while Steve Clarke's men put up the bravest of fights, it was not enough to stop Rams from claiming all three points thanks to a 69th minute winner from Tom Ince.

Derby were rarely comfortable all night, even with a one-man advantage, and Sa's sending off raised the question of what might had been had he kept his cool.

The way he trudged off the pitch, head bowed, towards the tunnel was in stark contrast to his triumphant display against Ipswich Town last week when he plundered an excellent hat-trick.

If Reading decide not to appeal, Sa will serve an automatic three-match ban for violent conduct, ruling him out of the Championship trips to Bristol City and Burnley as well as the Capital One Cup clash against Everton.

Clarke made one change to the side that defeated Ipswich Town 5-1, with Michael Hector replacing Anton Ferdinand.

It's thought Ferdinand picked up a knock in training, meaning Hector was handed his first start since his recent £4m move to Chelsea which included a year's loan back at the Madejski Stadium.

Royals carried their momentum from the superb win over Ipswich into tonight's clash and almost took a second-minute lead when a thunderbolt from Aaron Tshibola deflected off a Derby player and over the bar.

But Paul Clement's visitors responded when a Jeff Hendricks' effort took a nick off Hector's boot and fizzed wide. Much to Rams' frustrations, referee Davies awarded a goal kick.

But the lively start continued with Tshibola threatening again after being set up by Nick Blackman and Derby defender Richard Keogh, his head bandaged up, nodding over the Reading bar.

And 20 minutes in Jordan Obita got free down the left and whipped over an inviting cross, only for Sa's back-post header to strike an opponent and fly over.

But if Royals were dangerous going forward, they were also brave at the back, as epitomised by Paul McShane's crucial block from a Jacob Butterfield drive.

But as the half wore on, the more Reading began to dominate and only a brilliant save from Scott Carson prevented Oliver Norwood's 30-yard screamer from nestling in the top corner.

The Northern Ireland star scored from similar range against Ipswich, but Carson was equal to it on this occasion.

Even so, Reading looked far more like to break the deadlock – that was until disaster struck seconds before the break.

Sa was goaded by Rams defender Shackell, and the Portuguese striker took the bait and appeared to lower his head in Shackell's direction.

That was all referee Davies needed to flash the red and send Sa off while also booking Shackell, leaving Royals to battle with 10 men for the entire second half.

They were under the cosh as soon as play restarted, with Bradley Johnson curling an effort just wide from outside the box.

But Clarke's men still tried to push forward at every opportunity and Blackman kept Carson on his toes with low grasscutter from 20 yards.

They were also defending for the lives and a brilliant sliding tackle from Obita prevented Butterfield from pulling the trigger from eight yards out.

Sadly, Royals' resistance was finally broken by the Rams in the 69th minute.

Visiting skipper Chris Martin found Ince with a neat pass and the midfielder picked his spot well, slotting past Bond from around 10 yards.

Bond, perhaps, should have done better as Ince's shot lacked pace and was close to his body. It certainly knocked the stuffing out of Royals, who struggled to make any in-roads from there on.

Rams were also content to sit on their lead for much of the time, though Craig Forsyth did venture forward before volleying over the bar with 10 minutes to go.

There was one moment in the closing stages when Royals' hearts were in mouths – but substitute Hal Robson-Kanu sent a header sailing over the bar from Norwood's corner.

The defeat was Reading's first in eight matches, stretching back to their opening-day loss at Birmingham City.

And while their quest for a third straight league win for the first time in a year ended in frustration and with Sa's sending off, there were plenty of positives for Clarke to reflect on.

Reading will aim to bounce back this Saturday when they travel to Bristol City (3pm ko).

Reading FC: Bond - Gunter, McShane (c), Hector, Obita - Blackman, Norwood, Tshibola (McCleary 81), Quinn (Robson-Kanu 68), Vydra (Williams 63) - Sa. Subs: Al Habsi, Piazon, John, Cooper. Booked: Tshibola 24. Red card: Sa 45.

Derby County: Carson - Christie, Keogh, Shackell, Forsyth, Butterfield (Hanson 74), Hendrick (Bent 61), Johnson, Ince (Weimann 83), Martin (c), Russell. Subs: Grant, Dawkins, Pearce, Warnock. Booked: Shackell 45, Russell 60,

Referee: Andy Davies.

Attendance: 15,697 (Derby 1,293).