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Bristol City's defenders are inconsolable after conceding the winner in stoppage time

Nick Blackman's stoppage-time goal was enough to give Reading victory over Championship strugglers Bristol City.

Reading's top scorer ran on to a Danny Williams pass and shot low past City goalkeeper Frank Fielding to net for the 13th time this season.

City failed to hit the target as Luke Freeman came closest early on when he hit the side netting.

Matej Vydra had a number of chances for the home side, as did Blackman before he eventually got the winner.

The victory was the second for Reading manager Brian McDermott since taking over on 17 December and ended a run of one victory in their last seven games as they moved up to 12th place in the Championship.

City have now won just twice in their last 14 league games, a record stretching back to the middle of October, and are in the final relegation place by virtue of goal difference.

Reading controlled much of the opening period with Jake Cooper, Vydra and Oliver Norwood all going close.

Orlando Sa and Williams had efforts blocked after the break, while Vydra headed straight at Fielding and Blackman headed over before getting the late winning goal.

Reading manager Brian McDermott:

"Matej could have scored two or three goals today. He worked his socks off, he kept putting himself on the line, which was really important. He never hid.

"And he's made an unbelievable tackle late in the game. He gave the ball away, ran after it, made that unbelievable tackle and then gave a terrific pass to Garath (McCleary). In a way, that tackle has been a match-winner for us.

"I'm delighted for Matej and the whole group. It's all about belief and confidence. But the win will give us that little bit extra confidence. To get it so late, it's a big, big win."

Briston City boss Steve Cotterill:

"We played very well today. Collectively, we've got a lot of young lads who are learning the hard way at this level.

"The players are giving me everything they can possibly give me. Today was just one of those painful defeats."

"It was disappointing to concede their goal. At the time, we were the team that were looking for three points. I thought that we were the team in the ascendancy."