Reading FC need to turnaround their recent run of results quickly if they want to try and be promotion contenders, writes Nicholas Tunney.

The Royals lost their third Championship game on the bounce with a 2-1 home defeat to Blackburn.

A dreadful start to the game meant they face an uphill task throughout after Adam Armstrong's thunderbolt had given the visitors the lead at the Mad Stad.

Reading were pretty much second best in the first half, failing to get anything going in terms of possession or chances.

John Swift, who has been so influential this term, was off-colour and George Puscas and Lucas Joao were being starved of any real service.

Blackburn looked good, playing some decent football and they looked well-drilled at the back.

I am sure Jose Gomes demanded a fast start from his side in the second half but they suffered a huge sucker punch when Bradley Dack made it 2-0.

To their credit, the Royals didn't give up and Swift, hugely improved after the break, scored with a opportunist finish to halve the deficit.

Gomes brought on Yakou Meite to give Reading more impetus in attack but Blackburn were holding up manfully in defence.

Reading's challenge started to fizzle out and the visitors had a couple of good chances to make the game safe late on.

All in all, a very disappointing result for the Royals. They have a seriously tough run of games ahead in league competition, with Swansea, Fulham and Bristol City to play before the international break.

There were some positives. Jordan Obita made his first start for two years and put in some dangerous crosses from the left, Andy Yiadom was probably Reading's best player on the day and Swift and Ovie Ejaria kept battling.

Gomes can take heart from his side's improvement in the second half and the fact that his side have done better against the teams challenging for promotion this year, the likes of Cardiff and West Brom.

That Swansea match on Saturday is a huge one for Reading.