READING FC were beaten at home in the league for the first time this year after a lacklustre display saw them slump to a 2-0 defeat against Championship rivals Birmingham City, writes Courtney Friday.

Brian McDermott's men struggled to get into the game after Clayton Donaldson fired the visitors into the lead with less than two minutes on the clock.

And Ryan Shotton doubled Blues' lead with 27 minutes gone after some woeful Royals defending.

It was the Reading's third game in seven days, but they were unable to recapture the form which saw them clinch back-to-back wins against Bolton and Nottingham Forest.

Birmingham were comfortable throughout the 90 minutes, and Brian McDermott lost his first match in the Championship at the Madejski Stadium since his re-appointment in December.

The manager elected the same starting XI which beat Forest on Tuesday night, while fit again duo Deniss Rakels and Garath McCleary were handed places on the bench.

Reading looked nervous from the off and fell a goal behind after 73 seconds when Blues' forward Donaldson rose highest to head in David Cotterill's cross from the right hand side.

Birmingham then had a chance to double their lead after Danny Williams' pass was picked up by Stephen Gleeson, but he was closed down well by the Royals' defence.

The first chance for Reading fell to on-loan midfielder Lucas Piazon, but the midfielder scuffed his effort well over the bar from inside the six-yard box in the eighth minute.

Heavy rainfall at the Madejski stadium led to some wayward passing from the Royals, who struggled to get a grip of the game for this first 20 minutes.

Kermorgant dug out Cox with a fine ball, and the striker took a touch and spun on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot flew high and wide.

City had only managed one goal in their previous six away games before this afternoon, but they doubled their lead on 27 minutes after Al-Habsi could only parry David Cotterill's free kick into the path of Shotton, who made no mistake from the rebound.

Royals skipper Paul McShane thought he pulled one back when Blues' keeper Adam Legzdins spilled the ball, but the assistant referee had already raised his offside flag on 35 minutes.

Reading's Simon Cox then had a penalty shout turned down on 37 minutes after the forward appeared to be shoved over in the Birmingham box, but referee Nigel Miller dismissed his appeal.

Another penalty shout was turned down two minutes later after Donaldson appeared to bundle over McShane in the area, but the referee gave a corner - much to McShane's dismay.

Anither half-chance fell to Royals when Stephen Quinn met Gunter's cross on the stroke of half time, but the Republic of Ireland international headed wide of Legzdins' post.

It was perhaps one of the most disappointing first half performances of the season, and it was made worse for Reading fans when Williams gave the ball away again in the first minute of stoppage time, but McShane charged down David Davis's chance for Birmingham's third goal.

McDermott changed things around at half time by bringing on Tuesday night's first goal scorer Vydra to replace Piazon.

The first chance of the second half fell to Quinn on the edge of the area, but the midfielder's volley flew high and wide.

Then Kermorgant's flick-on fell kindly to Simon Cox in the area, but the forward was quickly charged down by the Birmingham defence.

It was frustrating stuff for the home supporters, and Reading wasted a decent challne to reduce the deficit on the hour when Williams charged 60 yards but couldn't beat Legzdins when he had players in support.

Birmingham were happy to sit back and defend their two goal lead, and the Royals continued to struggle to break through the opposition defence.

Jake Cooper was handed Reading's best chance of the game on 71 minutes after Norwood picked the defender out from a free-kick, but the defender's header flew over the bar.

Ola John was introduced as a last throw of the dice for McDermott, but Reading continued to struggle to create clear-cut chances.

Home fans were heading for the exit with 10 minutes of the game to go, and Birmingham nearly carved out a third through some swift attacking play, but Cooper was able to clear the ball.

McCleary's cross on the 90th minute of the game was met by the towering Kermorgant, but the Frenchman's header was easily smothered by the City stopper.

Royals were booed off the pitch at the end of the game, which sees them remain in 13th place in the league ahead of a trip to title-chasing Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Reading: Al Habsi, Gunter (McCleary 63), Obita, McShane, Cooper, Norwood, Williams, Quinn, Piazon (Vydra 46), Kermorgant, Cox (John 71). Subs not used: Bond, Taylor, Hector, Rakels.

Birmingham: Legzdins, Caddis, Morrison, Shotton, Grounds, Kieftenbeld, Gleeson, Davis, Cotterill (Maghoma 71), Donaldson, Lafferty (Solomon-Otabor 71). Subs not used: Kuszczak, Fabbrini, Vaughn, Toral, Spector.

Referee: Nigel Miller.

Attendance: 17,868 (1,796 away).

Bookings: Kermorgant (42), Cooper (57), Donaldson (83), McShane (83), Morrison (93).