READING FC had a man sent off before winning 2-1 for the second match in succession after knocking Brighton & Hove Albion out of the EFL Cup to book a place in the last 16.

Captain-for-the-night Stephen Quinn put Royals ahead with quality 32nd minute strike in the third-round clash at Amex Stadium.

But referee Lee Probert sent off Tyler Blackett 10 minutes later for a debatable foul on Sebastien Pocognoli which Royals are likely to appeal.

Yet rather than cave in, Jaap Stam's men produced a heroic display of grit and determination to win against the odds.

Just as he had in the 2-1 win at Barnsley on Saturday after Garath McCleary's red, John Swift doubled Reading's lead with a peach of a strike in the 54th minute to give the visitors some breathing space.

And although Tomer Hemed pulled one back six minutes from time, there was no denying Stam's men.

When the final whistle blew they bore little resemblance to the starting line-up due to the enforced reshuffle after Blackett's red and an injury to Liam Moore that threatens to leave Stam short of defensive cover.

With McCleary and Danny Williams already suspended and Joey van den Berg, Yakou Meite and Deniss Rakels injured, Stam was forced to dig deep into his squad.

The Dutchman made eight changes from Saturday including a first senior start for Dominic Samuel up front alongside Joseph Mendes.

Goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola, Tennai Watson, Liam Kelly, Callum Harriott, Joseph Mendes, Quinn and Blackett also stepped in, while Sandro Weiser was named on the bench for the first time since his summer arrival from FC Thun.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton made the full 11 changes, named former Royals Steve Sidwell and Oliver Norwood in their midfield and ex-loanee Glenn Murray up front, while also handing a debut to full-back Pocognoli, on loan from West Brom.

But it was Reading who threatened first as Swift's pass gave Samuel a sniff at goal, but he failed to keep his shot down.

Then Kelly stung Niki Maenpaa's hands from long-range before Quinn's volley deflected narrowly wide as the visitors looked for an early opening.

Brighton offered little until Murray headed over Jaakkola's bar in the 20th minute, but Reading replied moments later when an effort from Mendes was well saved by Maenpaa.

Swift tried to repeat his scorcher at Oakwell on Saturday, but this time failed to hit the target. Yet the ex-Chelsea midfielder was involved in everything, setting up Mendes who shot into Maenpaa's arms.

Brighton hit back as Elvis Manu volleyed narrowly wide from Sam Baldock's cross before Norwood missed the target in a lively spell for the hosts.

But when Royals broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute it was no more than they deserved.

Stam's men forced a corner and when Brighton failed to deal with Swift's excellent delivery, Quinn steadied himself before lashing a volley into the net from 10 yards out.

Yet for the second game in succession, Reading were reduced to 10 men after Blackett's controversial red card three minutes before the break.

The ex-Manchester United defender appeared to slip as he tackled Pocognoli, but Probert deemed it two-footed and brandished a straight red.

Like McCleary, Blackett will serve an automatic three-match ban, unless Royals appeal.

It also spelled the end of the night for the unlucky Samuel, as Stam sacrificed the hungry youngster and put on Danzell Gravenberch.

Luckily for the Royals, they held on until the interval despite a nervy moment when Murray headed against Jaakkola's crossbar.

Then the night got even better for Stam's men when Swift doubled their lead nine minutes after the restart.

A minute earlier, the visitors were grateful to see Connor Goldson's header fly just wide from a corner.

But an excellent break by Reading involving Harriott and Mendes ended with Swift's emphatic finish and the relative comfort of a two-goal lead.

That, though, came under immediate threat when Jaakkola saved expertly from the ever-threatening Murray with 58 minutes gone.

And they suffered another injury blow just after the hour when Moore picked up a knock and was replaced by Chris Gunter, who joined Gravenberch in a makeshift central defence.

The Seagulls knocked at the door when Rohan Ince and Baldock got into decent positions, but neither could hit the target. A trademark Norwood free-kick was of little concern for Jaakkola either, though it needed a scrambled defence to block a dangerous effort from substitute Tomer Hemed.

In a carbon copy of Saturday's victory at Barnsley, Reading conceded with six minutes left of normal time, this time Hemed finding the net after excellent work from Murray.

But just like last weekend at Oakwell, Royals managed to survive.

Jamie Murphy and Goldson wasted half chances, then the home side's penalty appeals were turned down after Harriott collided with Murray deep into six minutes of injury time.

Yet the visitors clung on thanks to a superb defensive effort, and no lack of quality, to book a place in the last 16.

The fourth-round draw takes place tomorrow night.

Brighton: Maenpaa, Hunt, Huenemeier, Goldson, Pocognoli (Skalak 69), Sidwell, Ince (Hemed 62), Norwood, Manu (Murphy 73), Murray, Baldock. Subs not used: Ankergren, Dunk, Bong, Kayal. Booked: Sidwell 79, Norwood 88, Skalak 90.

Reading: Jaakkola, Watson, Obita, Blackett, L.Moore (Gunter 61), Kelly, Swift, Quinn (c), Harriott, Samuel (Gravenberch 43) , Mendes. Subs not used: S.Moore, Evans, Wieser, Beerens. Booked: Quinn 61. Red card: Blackett 42.

Referee: Lee Probert.

Attendance: 6,235 (Reading 319).