Ipswich Town 0-1 Reading FC: Instant Reaction

Steve Clarke elected to make two changes from Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Wigan, with Michael Hector and Jamie Mackie replacing Oliver Norwood and Garath McCleary who both dropped down to the bench.

Ipswich top scorer Daryl Murphy showed why he's scored 21 goals this season with some promising early play, while former Royal Jay Tabb was also causing some problems on his 31st birthday.

Yet it was Reading who took the lead, with Jamie Mackie firing in his second league goal for the club with a drive from outside the box after being fed by Pavel Pogrebnyak.

From then on it was mostly a backs to the wall effort, with Federici being tested a few times from distance and a number of teasing crosses being put into the Reading penalty area.

Garath McCleary and Hope Akpan came on followed by Jake Cooper as Reading looked to shore things up with 15 minutes to go and despite having just 40% of the possession and being out shot by 19-9, it was the Royals who went home happy.

The game leaves Reading in 13th place, 9 points clear of the relegation places but an almost impossible 16 points away from the play-off places. At this stage it's very much looking like the FA Cup or bust but until we reach the 50 point mark it's still important we keep picking up the odd point here and there.

Marc will be along with a full report and player ratings a little later this weekend but for now we can sit and bask in the glowing warmth of three points.