Roberts off the mark for Reading
01/28/2012 08:56:34 PM
Reading climbed into the Championship's top six on Saturday, with a 1-0 win over 10-man Bristol City at the Madejski Stadium.
Brian McDermott's men failed to break City's resolve in the opening 45 minutes, before defender Louis Carey was given a straight red card and conceded a penalty in the 57th minute.
New signing Jason Roberts stepped up to the spot and saw his initial attempt saved by veteran goalkeeper David James.
But debutant Roberts guided home the rebound to give Reading the full three points to elevate them into fourth spot on goal difference, although they have played an extra game than the sides surrounding them on the table.
In the league's only other Saturday fixture, Portsmouth were resounding 3-0 winners away to Peterborough.
It was a timely result for the club in crisis, with news about former manager Harry Redknapp's alleged tax offences while in charge of the club and an unrelated winding-up order for an unpaid tax bill putting Portsmouth in the headlines for all the wrong reasons of late.
Norwegian Erik Kuseklepp scored a brace for Portsmouth, while Jason Pearce was also on target for the victors.