Match ends, Brentford 1, Reading 3.
BrentfordBrentford1ReadingReading3
Nick Blackman scored twice as Reading registered their first Championship win of the season away at Brentford.
The Royals took the lead on 17 minutes when Orlando Sa powered a header home and Blackman doubled their advantage with a free-kick from 25 yards out.
Lasse Vibe pulled one back for the Bees midway through the second half.
But Blackman sealed the points with an injury-time penalty, converting after being brought down by Bees goalkeeper David Button.
Brentford had Button to thank for keeping the scoreline down as Reading ran riot in a one-sided first half.
He made a string of saves; tipping Stephen Quinn's deflected shot wide, parrying a header from Hal Robson-Kanu and making a brilliant double save to deny Quinn and Blackman.
Brentford looked far more lively after the break but rarely looked like clawing their way back into the game, even after Vibe reduced the arrears with a curling effort which went in off the post.
The Bees were playing the first match on their new pitch at Griffin Park, which was re-laid during the week after their game against Birmingham in midweek was postponed.
Brentford head coach Marinus Dijkhuizen: "We were very poor in the first half and to be honest I didn't recognise some of my players. We were not good on the ball and struggled to keep hold of it."
Reading boss Steve Clarke: "I keep talking about performances and that first half was excellent. If we play like that then the results will follow and if they don't I'll still be happy.
"I thought we could have been out of sight by half-time but their keeper has kept them in it. I was out of my seat getting ready to celebrate when he stopped one shot."
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 27ButtonBooked at 90mins
- 2Colin
- 6Dean
- 26TarkowskiBooked at 31mins
- 3BidwellBooked at 84mins
- 20DiagouragaSubstituted forMcCormackat 37'minutesBooked at 53mins
- 17KerschbaumerSubstituted forSaundersat 83'minutes
- 21Vibe
- 18Judge
- 24GogiaSubstituted forClarkeat 45'minutes
- 11HofmannBooked at 57mins
Substitutes
- 7Saunders
- 12McCormack
- 16Bonham
- 22O'Connell
- 29Barbet
- 35Udumaga
- 36Clarke
Reading
Formation 4-3-3
- 1BondBooked at 90mins
- 2GunterBooked at 87mins
- 5McShane
- 15Ferdinand
- 11ObitaBooked at 22mins
- 23Williams
- 6NorwoodSubstituted forHectorat 90+4'minutes
- 21Quinn
- 22Blackman
- 10SáSubstituted forTshibolaat 82'minutes
- 9Robson-KanuSubstituted forMcClearyat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Hector
- 12McCleary
- 16Hurtado
- 18Tshibola
- 19Fernández Iglesias
- 26Al Habsi
- 31Cox
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 10,206
Match Stats
Home TeamBrentfordAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away9
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home21
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Reading 3.
Goal!
Goal! Brentford 1, Reading 3. Nick Blackman (Reading) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Booking
David Button (Brentford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Penalty conceded by David Button (Brentford) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty Reading. Nick Blackman draws a foul in the penalty area.
Booking
Jonathan Bond (Reading) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Harlee Dean (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jake Bidwell with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Michael Hector replaces Oliver Norwood.
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Jake Bidwell (Brentford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Garath McCleary (Reading).
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Foul by Maxime Colin (Brentford).
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Nick Blackman (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Anton Ferdinand (Reading) because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. Sam Saunders (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alan Judge.
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Maxime Colin (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Garath McCleary (Reading).
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Sam Saunders.
Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel Williams (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aaron Tshibola.
