Brentford beaten after dismal start at Reading

Reading 2 Brentford 1

Brentford suffered another defeat on the road as relegation-threatened Reading did their survival prospects the power of good with victory at the Madejski Stadium.

Sloppy defending from the Bees saw them fall two behind in the opening quarter of an hour. Yakou Meite did the damage, first bursting clear and finding the bottom right corner, then heading home a free-kick at the near post.

Neal Maupay pulled one back just before the break with his 26th goal of the season, but the Bees could not find an equaliser.

After establishing a two-goal cushion, the Royals should have gone three up when Mo Barrow missed an open goal from a yard out.

In reply Ollie Watkins’ header from a Moses Odubajo cross from the left was headed behind for a corner.

Maupay 23rd league goal this season came when Emi Martinez spilled a Said Benrahma free-kick and the Frenchman nodded the ball home from five yards.

Reading almost restored their two-goal lead early in the second half, Lewis Baker nearly catching out Luke Daniels with a free-kick from just inside Brentford’s half, but the keeper tipped it over.

Martinez kept Reading ahead with a double save when he denied substitute Sergi Canos at the near post and then tipped a header from Mads Bech Sordensen around the post a minute later.

The Bees finished with five attackers on the pitch but were unable to draw level.

Brentford (3-4-3): Daniels; Jeanvier, Konsa, Sorensen; Dalsgaard, Da Silva (sub Marcondes 68), Sawyers, Odubajo (sub Forss 78), Benrahma, (sub Canos 58), Watkins; Maupay

Subs not used: Balcombe, Ogbene, Field, Oksanen