NICK Blackman scored his 10th goal of the season to see off gutsy Charlton Athletic and send Reading FC up to second in the Championship table.

Blackman headed home a Lucas Piazon cross in the 76th minute to secure a sixth league win in seven Championship matches for Steve Clarke's promotion-chasing side.

Minutes earlier Charlton has seen Patrick Bauer sent off for a second yellow and Blackman delivered the ultimate punishment by grabbing the winning goal.

Royals boss Steve Clarke was missing Wales winger Hal Robson-Kanu, Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Quinn and keeper Jonathan Bond through inury. That meant a first league start for Benfica signing Ola John and a place on the bench for Rowan Liburd, signed from Billericay in the summer.

Reading burst out of the blocks with Piazon testing Nick Pope in the Addicks goal and John firing over.

Oliver Norwood also went close with a long-range effort before the break and Royals threaned again after the restart through Michael Hector and Blackman.

Charlton, however, were proving tough to break down as Piazon's drive deflected wide.

But the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Bauer picked up a second yellow for a foul on Blackman.

Piazon smacked the free kick over the bar but Reading finally got the breakthrough in the 76th minute thanks to in-form Blackman when he converted Piazon's cross to secure the victory for Clarke's men.

Reading travel to Rotherham United on Tuesday night (7.45pm ko).

Reading FC: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Obita, McShane, Hector, Norwood, Tshibola (Williams 70), Piazon (Fernandez 86), Blackman, John (McCleary 70), Sa. Subs not used: Moore, Taylor, McCleary, Cooper, Liburd.

Charlton Athletic: Pope, Solly, Bauer, Diarra, Bergdich, Gudmundsson (Fox 62), Cousins, Jackson (Ba 70), McAleny, Moussa (Watt 56), Ahearne-Grant. Subs not used: Henderson, Fox, Sarr, Holmes-Dennis, Kennedy. Sent off: Bauer 
Attendance: 17,614 (1,183 Charlton).
Referee: Rob Lewis.