English FA Premiership/ Reading 1 Manchester City 0: Only four games have been played but already Reading's inaugural Premiership season is developing into a predictable pattern: two defeats away and, more importantly, two wins out of two at home.

They rode their luck early on against Manchester City last night, but ultimately they were worthy winners. But for City, this was an awful night. After a strong start they lost first their composure and then their dignity.

Micah Richards had an almighty tantrum after being substituted and then Ousmane Dabo was shown a straight red card 11 minutes from time for a forearm smash on Steve Sidwell.

City should have taken the lead after 13 minutes but Paul Dickov shot straight at Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann from 10 yards. But it was a pitiful double mistake from Sylvain Distin that gave Reading the lead after 23 minutes.

First he pulled back Lita on the right wing and was booked; then, from the resulting free-kick, whipped in dangerously by Bobby Convey, he allowed Ivar Ingimarsson to escape him and plant a close-range header past Nicky Weaver.

Ingimarsson clashed heads with Distin in the act of scoring and stayed down for a couple of minutes, but it was City who seemed dazed and confused, particularly when Sinclair slashed well wide when put clear by Bernardo Corradi's header.

Reading almost extended their lead when Graeme Murty's optimistic shot was deflected across the box to Sidwell, whose shot was was fingertipped over the bar quite brilliantly by Weaver.

Reading continued to dominate after the break.

City remained largely naked as an attacking force though substitute Georgios Samaras had a shot deflected past the upright and Reyna slashed lamentably over when well placed on the left-hand side of the box. City's woes in front of goal seem set to continue.

READING: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Ki-Hyeon (Gunnarsson 76), Sidwell, Harper, Convey, Lita (Long 75), Doyle. Subs not used: Little, Hunt, Stack.

MAN CITY: Weaver, Richards (Trabelsi 60), Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Sinclair, Barton, Dabo,Reyna (Miller 73), Dickov (Samaras 60), Corradi. Subs not used: Hamann, Hart. Sent off: Dabo (80). Booked: Distin, Reyna, Sinclair, Barton.

Referee: H Webb

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