Alex Pearce had an afternoon from hell after two fatal mistakes saw Cardiff City inflict another defeat on a sorry looking Reading. Pearce managed just 45 minutes on the pitch but still managed to score an own goal, give away a penalty that allowed Cardiff to seal the win, and receive his marching orders with a straight red card. Pearce's unfortunate contribution to the game meant that Reading were already dead and buried before the half time break. Hector scored a late consolation for the Royals but it was too late for Reading, down to ten men, to pull the game around. It's now just the single league point from six away game from Reading's as they drop to 15th in the table, already nine points outside of the top six.

Despite the disaster that unfolded on the pitch it was Reading that had the most of the opening exchanges. Reading looked tidy on the ball but even with their superior possession lacked any cutting edge in the final third. It was against the run of play that Cardiff took the lead on twenty minutes. Gunter conceeded a corner which was swung in and met by Alex Pearce who put the ball past Federici. It was Cardiff's first real attempt of the match. The game returned to it's early pattern with Reading seemingly happy to be patient and pass the ball around without creating any danger. It was left to the home side to create chances on the break - and it was one of these that saw Pearce pull down former Reading striker Adam Le Fondre player in the box. With the help of the linesman Pearce was judged to be the final man and the red card was shown. The penalty was driven home and Cardiff were 2-0 up.

The second half was even more comfortable for Cardiff who had rarely been threatened when Reading had had eleven players. But then, out of the blue, Reading staged a late comeback attempt. Hector scored an powerful effort from just inside the box with nine minutes left to play - and suddenly the hunt was on for an equaliser. There were a few moments of panic in the Cardiff defence but they could relax when the best Reading could do was a dramatic dive from Blackman that rightly earned him a yellow card. So, 1-2 at full time, and surely another defeat to come next Saturday when Reading visit Norwich City?

Alex Pearce’s nightmare first half helped Cardiff make it five consecutive home wins as they saw off Reading. The Reading defender’s 45 minutes to forget began with the game’s opening goal when he diverted Peter Whittingham’s inswinging corner past his own goalkeeper, Adam Federici. And seconds before the break the Republic of Ireland centre-back was shown the red card when he fouled Adam Le Fondre inside the box, allowing Whittingham to score the second from the penalty spot.

A late mistake from David Marshall allowed Michael Hector to reply for Nigel Adkins’ men, who remain without an away win since August. But the nearest Reading came to earning a late point was a penalty appeal for a foul on the substitute Nick Blackman, only for Linington to show the forward a yellow card for diving.
The Guardian