Bristol City vs Reading live: Updates from Ashton Gate

Championship football is back after a two-week break and Nigel Pearson's side are looking to bounce back from two defeats against Paul Ince's Reading this afternoon.

The Royals head across the M4 without a victory in five games, face an injury crisis of their own and have a potential six-point penalty deduction looming over them for breaching financial regulations.

City will welcome back both Matty James and Tommy Conway through injury although it will come too soon for Kal Naismith. Alex Scott is also sidelined while Mark Sykes begins the first of his four-match ban. Victory could lift the Robins one place up to 13th as they target a top-half finish.

We'll bring you all the build-up, live match action and reaction across the afternoon so stay tuned and continue scrolling down below.

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18:44Richard Forrester

Championship table

Here's how the Championship table looks after today's results

18:43KEY EVENT

Nigel Pearson's comments

Nigel Pearson bemoaned one lapse of concentration that cost his side three points but set his Bristol City side the target of being more ruthless in front of goal going forward.

The hosts dominated possession for large periods, creating openings from wide areas but were often left frustrated with their final ball. Nahki Wells thought he scored the opener but was adjudged offside when he turned in Andi Weimann's initial strike from close range.

Read the full story here

16:59KEY EVENT

The player ratings

Here's how the players rated at Ashton Gate and no prizes for guessing which player received an 8.

Read the full story here

16:55Richard Forrester

Reaction to come

City made to rue missed opportunities once again as Reading come away with a point against the run of play. Reaction to come.

90Richard Forrester

Wow

Reading break on the counter and Joao is through on goal but he gets the ball stuck under his feet! Then City go up the other end before Cornick fizzes a strike just wide of the post.

The full-time whistle blows in this game. A frantic end to the contest.

90Richard Forrester

Off the post!

So close! Pring whips in a delivery from deep and King heads it onto the outside of the post!

90Richard Forrester

One more chance?

City have five forwards on the pitch now, can they produce that combination to find a winner? Mehmeti wins a corner...

90Richard Forrester

Four minutes added time

Four minutes for City to try and find a winner here... It all looks a little disjointed at the moment.

87Richard Forrester

Substitution

Matty James is replaced by Sam Bell for the remaining few minutes. The midfielder was suffering from cramp.

84Richard Forrester

Flag's up

And the goal won't stand! Mehmeti's strike isn't held by the keeper and Wells taps it in but the flag goes up for offside for the second time against the striker.

81Richard Forrester

Substitution

Salif-Mbengue comes off injured for the visitors with Ehibhationham coming on to replace him. Hopefully I won't have to write his name out too many times in these final 9 minutes.

73Richard Forrester

How it happened

It's a free-kick launched into the area which finds Andy Carroll - he won the flick-on and Joao heads it over O'Leary and into the corner. So disappointing but they are always going to be a threat from free-kicks.

71KEY EVENT

Goal Bristol City 1-1 Reading (Joao)

It's a goal out of absolutely nothing and it's come from a direct free-kick into the box.

68Richard Forrester

Another opportuntity

Mehmeti this time stings the palms of the keeper and the ball comes back to him. He lays it off to Wells who slices his effort wide of the left post.

66Richard Forrester

Chance!

It's a superb run by Pring down the right who has the beating of Hendrick for pace. He pulls it back on his right foot but the cross is intercepted and Reading clear when City had numbers forward.

65Richard Forrester

Mehmeti's booked

He brings down his man on the far side and receives a yellow for his troubles.

Reading are playing with red numbers on their blue and white shirts and they are just impossible to work out from here.

62Richard Forrester

Tommy Conway

A big hug from Nige as he heads off the field - he may have won this game for City but we'll see.

Reading are making two changes - Joao and Azeez come on for Guinness-Walker and Fornah come off.

Wow, the Reading fans sing 'You don't know what you're doing' in response that that. Interesting.

60Richard Forrester

A double sub

Here's the changes then... no surprise either with them. Conway and Taylor-Clarke, who is on a booking, come off for King and Cornick on the hour mark.

57Richard Forrester

A tester from distance

Matty James doesn't score many but he's had an effort comfortably saved from distance and being teed up by Weimann from around 20-yards out.

City in control of this one - dare I say it.

54Richard Forrester

Emphasis on Reading

They have to start showing more creativity in this game - their tactics so far have been... limited.

Mehmeti is seeing a lot of the ball but his final delivery hasn't been on the money yet.

46Richard Forrester

Early opportunity

For Reading who come out quickly at the start of this second half. It falls to around Fornah around 25-yards out from goal but he drags his effort wide of the right post.

45Richard Forrester

Back underway

Reading get us going for the start of this second half. No changes at the break which means Conway stays on the field for now.

15:50KEY EVENT

Half-time ratings

Max O'Leary - 7

George Tanner - 7

Zak Vyner - 7

Cam Pring - 7

Jay Dasilva - 6

Matty James - 7

Omar Taylor-Clarke - 6

Andi Weimann - 7

Anis Mehmeti - 7

Tommy Conway - 7

Nahki Wells - 7

45Richard Forrester

How it happened

Right on the stroke of half-time and Conway finishes off a fine move!

Weimann played it into Conway, who laid it off to Tanner first time. He plays it back to the striker's path who buries it beyond the keeper for his 10th of the season.

And there goes the half-time whistle.

45KEY EVENT

GOAAALLLLL Bristol City 1-0 Reading (Conway)

Back in the side and back amongst the goals!

15:45Richard Forrester

Two minutes added time

Before the end of the first-half.

45Richard Forrester

Chance!

Meite is released beyond the defence and takes it around O'Leary who is miles off his line. He's at a tight angle and fires in an effort in which Vyner heads behind for a corner.

He's absolutely furious that the flag didn't go up there. Nige was also standing on the touchline shaking his head. That would have been very contengious.

40Richard Forrester

Well done Mehmeti

He does really well to dig out a cross on his left foot by the byline which is turned behind for a corner.

Matty James takes the delivery which Carroll heads clear.

Have to say, after a bright City start, there's been little to shout about. Reading are happy to play for the point and the atmosphere is very subdued.

35Richard Forrester

Meite's down

He's down receiving treatment on the far side of the pitch after a tussle with Vyner.

That's twice now the Reading players have slowed the game with injuries - not saying it's a tactic but it's taking the sting out of the game.

30Richard Forrester

Good effort

Wells picks the ball up around 25-yards from goal - he has no team-mate near him so instead goes for goal, looking to catch Lumley out.

It's a good effort but the keeper shows good hands to hold onto the effort. That was hit with force.