Bristol City 1 (John 90)
Reading 4 (Doyle 14, 47, N Hunt 16, Cisse 54)

Reading earned a superb victory at Ashton Gate this afternoon - completely tearing Bristol City apart for a stunning and fully-deserved 4-1 win.

We started fantasically well, and scored two goals in a little more than a minute, first through Kevin Doyle and next through Noel Hunt - both lovely finishes after being played in down the right hand side.

City were second best, but Marcus Hahnemann still had to make a cracking save from Stern John just before the break.

The game was out of sight though two minutes after the restart, Doyle turning home from Jimmy Kebe's run.

Then Kalifa Cisse lashed home a stunning fourth from 25 yards - the best goal of the day.

City frontman John scored what looked to be an offside consolation in injury time - but it was of no concern as we picked up a superb three points.

Bristol City: Basso; Orr, Wilson, Fontaine, McCombe; Elliott, Johnson (Noble 59), Sproule (Trundle 59), McIndoe; John, Maynard (Akinde 59)
Subs: Weale, Webster
Booked: Maynard (foul 20)

Reading: Hahnemann; Rosenior, Armstrong, Bikey, Ingimarsson; Cisse, Harper (c) (Gunnarsson 82), Kebe, S Hunt; Doyle (Long 73), N Hunt (Matejovsky 68)
Subs: Andersen, Karacan
Booked: Ingimarsson (dissent 22), Doyle (celebration 48), Rosenior (foul 90)

Ref: J Moss

Attendance: 18,296 (2,095 away fans)

World TV: Steve's City reaction
 Clockwatch: Bristol City 1-4 Reading


First half
Reading started very brightly indeed, and Noel Hunt had an effort deflected wide after just four minutes.

Our Irish front pair were very lively, and Noel soon nicked possession from a dawdling defender, playing in Doyle but the shot was too close to Adriano Basso.

Our pressure soon told though, and with 15 minutes on the clock we took the lead. Former City man Liam Rosenior went on an incisive run, and slipped Doyle in. The Irishman was under pressure, but stayed on his feet under a challenge and finished well under the keeper.

And just 65 seconds later it was 2-0. Kalifa Cisse won possession well, then stepped in once more in a 50/50 and played in Noel Hunt down the right. Again the finish was good, and we were 2-0 ahead in some style.

The chances continued to come, and Doyle's diligence down the right saw him get in a good cross. Noel Hunt was inches from it, and it almost bounced off a defender for an own goal but a relieved Basso saved.

It was one way traffic, and this time Andre Bikey was the catalyst - releasing Jimmy Kebe down the right, and the cross was just overhit with men waiting.

City finally had a noteworthy effort on 37 minutes, and Marcus Hahnemann made a top class diving save to keep out Stern John's header from close range.

John was the only real threat for the home side, and he unleashed a decent strike a moment later, but it was comfortably wide; Hahnemann untroubled.

A lovely team move on 40 saw Basso forced into another save. Doyle and James Harper had been in the thick of things, and Noel Hunt's deflected strike was kept out.

There was still time for Cisse to shoot over the bar, and Marvin Elliott also tried his luck from distance but Hahnemann saw it sail over.

Second half
If City boss Gary Johnson thought he could improve things at half time, his team made a disastrous start to the second period and the game went well beyond his team.

Kebe got in again down the right, and his low cross was almost turned in by Stephen Hunt - only for Doyle to stab home into the corner - game over.

Later, John forced Hahnemann into another decent save, but Reading soon made it 4-0 with the best goal of the day.

Cisse won the ball in midfield, cut inside onto his left, then back on his right and smashed a brilliant effort right into the corner - fully 20 yards out - for a superb fourth.

The edge then really went out of the game, and it was all too comfortable for the Royals. Sub Shane Long forced Basso into a low save, while Kebe overran a one-on-one.

With six minutes left Bradley Orr got onto a nice Lee Trundle backheel, but again Hahnemann saved.

Into injury time and John had a consolation with a neat volley - but Reading's defenders furiously claimed offside.

We were a little disappointed to lose the clean sheet - but ultimately it was of little concern and it had been a fantastic afternoon in front of more than 2,000 Loyal Royals.

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