Reading won at home for the second successive match, beating league leaders Blackburn Rovers 3-0 at the SCL Stadium.

Off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Rotherham United, the task of hosting Rovers- who had a 100 per cent league record up until this match- was daunting but Paul Ince's men dominated from start to finish.

An unchanged team from the Yorkshire defeat, returning favourite Lucas Joao was fit enough for the bench, and he would find the net late on alongside Junior Hoilett and Tom McIntyre.

The Royals bounced back from their heavy Millers defeat with a strong start, pressing high and fast from the beginning. Despite having the best of the early possession, the first effort of the game fell to Ben Brereton Diaz, who fired a shot wide of Joe Lumley’s upright after flicking the ball over Andy Yiadom’s head on the edge of the box. Met with a loud roar from the supporters, the Royals last 10 minutes without conceding from the start of the half for the first time this season, and they went one better just three minutes later. McIntyre opened his account for the season and thundered home a header from a Tom Ince corner, giving the hosts a well-deserved lead.

Keeping Brereton Diaz quiet, it was Ince’s side who continued to press for the second, winning the ball back in the midfield numerous times but just missing the final pass to create a chance. On the half hour mark Reading came close to twice making it two, with Tyrese Fornah’s strike from the edge of the box hacked off the line. From the resulting corner, Tom Holmes’ floated header was knocked away off a defenders’ thigh and out for another set piece, which was eventually cleared away from danger. As to be expected, Dahl Tomasson’s team did improve as the half neared it’s end, Diaz set free on occasion only for Yiadom to track well and win a free kick.

It took just three minutes after the restart for the hosts to get back into their first half swing, pouncing on slack Rovers play to set up a three versus two situation on the edge of the attacking box. Ince threaded the ball through to Hendrick, but the pass had too much on it as it rolled for a goal kick. Mamadou Loum had his first shot as a Reading player, firing an effort wide of the post.

Reading Chronicle:

As expected, the Lancashire club grew into the game and created chances of their own in the second half, but they were few and far between. Brereton Diaz saw multiple efforts flash wide of the goal and they were made to pay. Former Rover Hoilett cuts in from the left and fires and unstoppable shot into the net off the underside of the bar to send the home fans potty.

Rather than rest on their laurels, it was Reading who dominated the final half hour. Joao made his long-awaited return and picked up his goal, sending the keeper the wrong way after dazzling footwork from Tyrese Fornah with 10 minutes remaining to make sure of the unexpected win.

Next up is another tough test at RG2, with Chris Wilder's Middlesbrough travelling down for Saturday afternoon.