Reading ended Derby County's three-month unbeaten away record with a composed 1-0 victory over the promotion chasers.

The Rams had the chance to go top with a win, but they appeared half-cooked and Paul Mukairu's second-half strike was enough to bounce back from defeat at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

Looking to turn the tables, it was Reading who had the best of the first half. It took just four minutes for the first chance, with Femi Azeez found in the box before directing an effort high and wide of the near post.

Azeez turned provider just five minutes later, but Sam Smith could only get a hair on the cross and was unable to direct it goalwards. The Rams, looking to go top, struggled to get hold of the game in midfield and Max Bird in particular seemed lacklustre. By contrast, Harvey Knibbs was a man-possessed in the midfield and was winning the ball back almost at will. He nicked possession off the Derby midfield and drove through the attacking third, looking to find Smith but the defence held firm and yet another half-chance passed the Royals by.

Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half, and Andy Yiadom was the first to do so. Spinning in the box, he sent Eiran Cashin the wrong way and got his shot off, only for it to bounce off Josh Vickers’ post before being gathered in the six-yard box.

Knibbs again did well to win possession high on the half-hour mark, finding a bright Mukairu. Beating his man for pace out wide, the Copenhagen loanee drilled a ball back into the danger zone of the box, but none of his forward teammates could connect before it harmlessly went back toward the middle of the pitch.

Despite dominating chances, Vickers’ first save wasn’t until 10 minutes before the break, palming Azeez’s fierce strike away after Smith had won possession on the halfway line. Without a defeat on the road in three months, Derby did have their moments. Drifting toward a goalless first half, veteran Conor Hourihane had his side’s best chance as his long-distance strike clipped the Reading post before heading out for a goal kick.

Many had expected the real Rams to turn up in the second half, seeing as the visitors had offered so little in the first. However, the action of the first period continued and it was Reading who looked more likely to edge in front. They did just that on the hour mark, with Azeez’s effort only parried back into the box and Mukairu was on hand to smash home the rebound and take a deserved lead.

Paul Warne made a host of changes as the half progressed and the visitors did begin to test the Reading resolve. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing had an effort skew wide and Tyrese John-Jules needed to do better when he was found in the box, only diverting his header wide.

Looking strong on the counter, the tie remained open at both ends well into the closing stages as supporters looked like they were watching a tennis match more than a football one.

Looking every bit as glum as their 1800+ travelling fans, the Rams struggled to muster much in the closing stages and the Royals saw the game out cleverly. 

Leyton Orient are the next to visit Berkshire on Saturday, looking to back up a terrific win.