Reading FC 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Instant Reaction

Reading manager Steve Clarke opted to make changes for this lower mid-table clash, as 18th played 19th in the Championship. This meant starts for Jake Cooper, Hope Akpan, Garath McCleary, and Nick Blackman - with Nathaniel Chalobah lining up at left-back and youngster Niall Keown on the bench.

Early chances came the way of the hosts: Cooper with a threatening header cleared before Hal Robson-Kanu missed a good chance to open the scoring. Fortunately, Reading weren't made to pay too much as Jamie Mackie stole the ball in a dangerous area, galloped through two challenges, and fired home from 18-yards.

Michael Hector then spurned a glorious chance to double the hosts' advantage, but the game was in our favour at half-time with Brighton failing to threaten. However, as Reading love to do, the early moments of the second period were when the visitors gained a foothold in the game. Cooper made too much contact with Emmanuel Ledesma in the area, and Chris O'Grady netted the penalty.

Nevertheless, Mackie was Reading's hero again, firing home left-footed from 25-yards. A good atmosphere from a small-ish Madejski crowd saw Steve Clarke's side threaten again, as an almighty goalmouth scramble forced Brighton 'keeper David Stockdale into a triple save to keep his side, technically, in the game. In fact, Brighton remained impotent in attack; bar O'Grady forcing Federici into a stoppage-time save.

Six added minutes sufficed after academy product Keown was given a run-out ahead of the final whistle, which confirmed a final score of 2-1. Reading move up to 16th in the league table, 13 points clear of the relegation zone.

We'll have a full match report & ratings up in due course, in the mean time: what did you make of Tuesday's match?