Goals at either end of the game from Danny Williams and Nick Blackman were enough to see Reading bring Middlesbrough's seven-game winning streak to an end with a deserved victory at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

Williams headed home amid poor marking with only fifteen seconds of the game played in the first half, before the in-form Blackman stepped up to roll in a late penalty and seal the three points for the home side. 

With table-topping Brighton and Hove Albion also dropping points in a one-all draw at home to Cardiff City, the Royals move to within four points of the top of the table, and within just two of second-placed Boro.

Williams stuns visitors in first minute

With the first foray forward of the entire game, it was Steve Clarke's men who took the lead to leave the visitors shell-shocked. Wales international Hal Robson-Kanu was allowed room to pick out a cross from the left which was met by the head of the barely-challenged Williams, who nodded past Dimi Konstantopoulos and give the hosts the lead.

It was, however, the visitors who saw the vast majority of the ball in the opening 45 minutes. Boro moved the ball around well and seemed to settle into the match well despite the early setback, but the Reading rearguard did well to deny them any true goalscoring opportunities.

Cristhian Stuani did well to find Diego Fabbrini but the Italian failed to get a threatening shot away from his feet, but for the most part Reading's high-tempo pressing was successful in ensuring Boro had little time on the ball in the final third.

Reading close to a second goal

And, just before the half-hour mark, the Royals could have doubled their lead with Robson-Kanu in the thick of the action once again.

He ghosted past visiting full-back George Friend with ease but only found Konstantopoulos with his cross. The keeper's punch went straight to recent hat-trick hero Orlando Sa who volleyed at goal, but Daniel Ayala was on hand to head the ball off the line and prevent a certain goal.

The closest the visitors came to tying the game up in the first half came from a set-piece situation, with Stewart Downing's wicked delivery leaving Ali Al-Habsi flat-footed but evading all of the onrushing attackers, with the goalkeeper eventually managing to knock the ball away from danger.

Almost immediately after, Sa and Blackman combined to forge a shooting opportunity for Robson-Kanu but he flashed his shot wide of the target, before Uruguay attacker Stuani fired over at the other end.

Boro see penalty shout turned down

Early in the second half, the visiting fans were left frustrated as what looked like a reasonable penalty shout was waved away by a referee who didn't seem to be making friends of either sets of supporters.

The ball looked to bounce up onto the hand of Jordan Obita inside the penalty area, before Oliver Norwood bent a long-range free kick wide of the target for the hosts.

Deadline-day signing Carlos de Pena went close to opening his account for Boro with time ticking away as the winger headed an Emilio Nsue cross wide after rising highest with the keeper left stationary, with Kike compounding a frustrating afternoon by lifting a shot well over the bar after controlling a ball over the top.

Blackman ensures victory from the spot

With just moments to play, Reading were given the opportunity to make the game safe as Fernando Amorebieta fouled Blackman in the area, with the referee eventually pointing to the spot.

Blackman stepped up himself to grab his ninth goal of an excellent personal season so far, sending Konstantopoulos the wrong way and coolly sliding his spot-kick into the bottom-right corner.

The second goal was the sucker-punch Reading needed to end the Boro resistance, and as the full-time whistle went the home fans were left to celebrate a deserved victory over the league's form side. 

Reading will look to consolidate their victory at home to Charlton Athletic in two weeks' time, while Middlesbrough return from the upcoming international break at home to Fulham in a match which will evoke memories of Boro's 4-3 defeat at Craven Cottage at the tail-end of last season

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About the author
Sam France
Former Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor at VAVEL UK, part of the VAVEL team 2014-2018.