Paddy Lane scored again to secure three points against Leyton Orient at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The Royals enjoyed the better openings and were awarded a penalty shortly after the half-hour mark, but Lewis Wing was unable to convert from 12 yards as Orient goalkeeper Nathan Baxter made the save.
Reading started brightly and looked to utilise the pace of Paddy Lane and Kyreece Lisbie against an Orient side set up in a five-man defence. Jeriel Dorsett's early diagonal ball found Lisbie in space, while Jamie Reid and Lane combined well to push the visitors back during the opening exchanges.
Lane provided Reading's first real threat when he drove into the penalty area after nine minutes, with his effort blocked before Josh Stokes could react to the loose ball. Moments later, Lane tested Nathan Baxter, forcing the goalkeeper into a save that led to a corner.
From the resulting set-piece, Reading nearly profited from a Baxter mistake. Wing's delivery caused problems and the Orient keeper spilled the ball in a crowded penalty area, but the visitors managed to clear before a Reading player could apply the finishing touch.
Orient's best chance of the opening quarter arrived after 14 minutes when Will Forrester let fly from outside the area. His effort flashed narrowly wide, although it was enough to force Joel Pereira into a full-length dive.
Stokes became the first player cautioned on 13 minutes after stopping an Orient counter-attack, but Reading continued to carry the greater attacking threat.
The home side came close again midway through the half when Reid produced some clever hold-up play before racing down the left and crossing for Lisbie. The winger found space inside the box but could not generate enough power on his header to trouble Baxter.
Orient threatened to take the lead against the run of play on 29 minutes, only for Pereira, to produce a superb double save from close range to keep the scores level. Fin Stevens was left unmarked in the box and fired goalwards, it was parried by ‘El Gato’ into the path of former Spurs attacker Dane Scarlett but it’s saved again.
Reading were then handed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock three minutes later. Udoka Godwin-Malife burst into the box and was brought down, with the referee immediately pointing to the spot.
Wing stepped up but saw his penalty saved by Nathan Baxter, ensuring the visitors remained level despite Reading's dominance.
Reading continued to press before the interval and almost found a breakthrough when Wing met Godwin-Malife's cut-back from the right edge of the box, only to fire his first-time effort over the crossbar.
Two minutes were added on at the end of the half, but neither side could find the opening goal, leaving the contest finely poised at the break.
Half-time – Reading 0-0 Leyton Orient
The visitors emerged from the interval on the front foot and nearly found a breakthrough within a minute of the restart.
Reading's frustrations were compounded shortly afterwards when O'Connor was shown a yellow card for a challenge in the 48th minute. The decision drew frustration from the home support, with the defender appearing to win the ball cleanly before being penalised.
The Royals responded in the best possible fashion four minutes later. Lewis Wing picked out Paddy Lane unmarked inside the penalty area and the winger made no mistake, showing great composure to lift his finish beyond Nathan Baxter and into the top corner to give Reading a deserved 1-0 advantage.
After taking the lead through Lane, Reading were forced to dig deep as Leyton Orient pushed for an equaliser.
Play was halted shortly after the hour mark when Joseph Olowu suffered a head injury and was replaced by former Royal Charlie Wellens, while Jaze Kabia came on for Dane Scarlett.
Reading threatened from set-pieces, with Lane firing over the bar after meeting a cross following a free-kick won by Andy Rinomhota. Moments later, Josh Stokes dragged an effort wide after another Royals attack.
Leam Richardson freshened things up midway through the half, introducing Charlie Savage and Jacob Brown in place of Stokes and Jamie Reid.
Orient's best chance to level arrived on 74 minutes when they blazed over the bar from close range. The visitors continued to apply pressure, winning a succession of corners, but Reading stood firm. James Morris saw an effort blocked from the edge of the area before another corner came to nothing.
At the other end, Kyreece Lisbie won a corner in Orient's half to ease the pressure as Reading looked to see out their narrow advantage.
Six minutes were added on and Orient continued to pile on the pressure – but the Royals held on to pick up all three points/
Full time: Reading 1-0 Leyton Orient
Full match attendance: 8,705 (687)
Reading: Pereira; Malife; Roberts; Rinomhota; Reid; Wing ©; O’Connor; Dorsett; Lisbie; Stokes; Lane
Subs: Stevens; Fraser; Brown; Kyerewaa; Williams; Knight; Savage
Leyton Orient: Baxter; Stevens; Morris; Olowu; Forrester; El Mizouni ©; Connolly; Gilchrist; Scarlett; Gilbert; Akhamrich
Subs: Phillips; Kabia; Hayden; Dobra; Wellens; Springett; Chinedu
Goals: P. Lane (52’)
Referee: Ben Toner
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