Reading were punished in defensive lapses to lose 3-2 at Birmingham City on Sky Sports.

Veteran Troy Deeney and Tahith Chong punished mistakes in the first half, and despite huffing and puffing, the Royals were unable to recover.

Lucas Joao gave Paul Ince's side a glimmer of hope in the final 10 minutes, but it was all too little too late.

The horror show took just 90 seconds to get underway as Deeney bagged his first. A Juninho Bacuna cross was deflected high over the back line with Mamadou Loum’s flailing foot. Dropping into space, Deeney caught it sweetly on the volley as it bounced past the oncoming Joe Lumley. Only one down, the Royals began to settle and create some chance of their own, both Loum and Andy Yiadom having efforts on goal shortly after falling behind. The best early chance fell to Yakou Meite, who the Birmingham defence struggled to contain all night. Tom McIntyre’s header dropped into the box and as it was falling, the Ivorian spun and hit a fierce effort which was well dealt with by John Ruddy.

Going almost straight down the other side, Deeney was given the chance to double his tally from the spot as Naby Sarr was judged to have brought the skipper down. A soft penalty on second viewing, it didn’t matter as the former Watford star thundered a penalty into the bottom corner to extend the lead. Again, the visitors knocked on the door to get on the scoresheet, this time Tom Ince forcing Ruddy into action after sending a thunderous effort on target after Meite’s shot had been blocked at source. Within a minute the Blues had a third, Amadou Mbengue failing to deal with a quick free-kick and Tahith Chong rounded Lumley before sliding into an open net.

Despite trailing comfortably at the break, it was Reading who came out looking the sharpest after the break. A string of corners were forced, Shane Long flicked one wide at the near post. The hosts could have added a fourth early one, Chong forcing Lumley into a save and Deeney’s powerful effort stopped on the line by Tom McIntyre. Tom Ince, who struggled to create a great deal throughout, tried his luck from distance on a number of occasions, all ending up over the bar.

Deeney, a constant thorn, could have had five or six after having another strike narrowly avoid the upright. Meite threatened to punish the hosts but his header flew over the bar from another clever Junior Hoilett cross. Ruddy was forced into action again when Meite tried his luck from distance, but the former England keeper was rarely at full stretch. Eventually the 650 travelling fans were given something to cheer as Andy Carroll’s shot deflected high and Lucas Joao was jogging on the spot to head home on the line.

Threatening to make it an interesting final 10 minutes, Ince grabbed a stoppage time second for Reading to reduce the lead to one. John Eustace's men saw out the game and leapfrogged the Royals in the Championship table.

Now without a game for 11 days, they return to action on December 27 against Swansea City.