Last updated on .From the section Championship

Jamie Paterson's goal gave Bristol City their second successive 1-0 victory

Bristol City stretched their winning run in the Championship to three matches as victory at Reading lifted them back into the play-off places.

Jamie Paterson scored the game's only goal, slotting coolly into the bottom corner after Niclas Eliasson's through ball.

It was Paterson's second goal in three league games since being recalled from a season-long loan with Derby County - and ensured City's return to form continues after a run of four successive defeats in December had seen them drop out of the top six.

But the Royals twice came close to snatching a late equaliser, as first Yakou Meite headed against the post and then Chris Gunter saw his attempted chip cleared off the line by Ashley Williams.

The result left inconsistent Reading 15th in the table, 11 points above the bottom three but 10 off the play-off spots.

It was the hosts who had the better of the chances before Paterson's second-half winner, with Royals midfielder Ovie Ejaria wasting the easiest of them when he scooped an effort over the bar from six yards.

John Swift also forced Daniel Bentley into a smart save with a swerving 25-yard strike, while Andreas Weimann's near-post header hit the side-netting at the other end.

Victory for City not only moved them up to sixth, but also saw them cut the gap to second-placed West Bromwich Albion to six points - having just one month ago been 16 points off the Baggies.

Reading manager Mark Bowen told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"Overall I'm disappointed, I thought it was a tight game. There wasn't a lot in it, the longer the game went on I thought one chance would win it or cost us.

"I thought early on we were quite lethargic from the start. The first 15 minutes we were quite casual, we never really imposed ourselves upon them.

"There were too many individuals on the night that were too lethargic and casual. We didn't really want to grab the game by the scruff of the neck."

Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol:

"It was definitely a team performance. The fans were clearing it off the line, I was trying to make tackles and it needed that, as Reading have got quality.

"We had to come here and give a proper away performance and we did that. We didn't take the sting out of the game in the final stages and all of a sudden they had the momentum and it was difficult to defend, but we did it.

"No one will remember the last 10 minutes, they will remember a great three points away from home."