Reading 0 Middlesbrough 2
BACK where he scored so many in a blue and white shirt Leroy Lita did it again as Boro won for the fourth time on the road this season, writes GORDON COX.
Boro made two changes to the side that lost against Leicester as Mark Yeates and Leroy Lita were recalled in place of Julio Arca and Marvin Emnes, who missed out on a place in the starting line-up for the first time this season.
Reading were unchanged from the side that won at Preston on Tuesday night as they looked for their first home win since January.
Lita was given a warm reception by the Reading fans before kick-off and was the first to get the fans to the edge of their seats when chasing a long ball with under a minute played.
Goalkeeper Adam Federici just reached the ball before the Boro striker, but needed a second chance to grab possession.
It proved to be a promising start for Boro, who looked lively.
But it took a fine clearance from Tony McMahon to prevent a left-wing cross from causing undue problems in the Boro box as the home side looked to get on the scoresheet at home for just the third time this season.
Coming into this game Boro had scored in every away game this season, a record enhanced with 12 minutes played as Adam Johnson swung over a right-wing corner, Sean St Ledger rose on the edge of the six-yard box with his header deflecting off Leroy Lita's shoulder just inside the six-yard box.
It ought to have been two a few minutes later but Lita, who had earlier missed a half chance, shot into the ground when eight yards from goal.
Jem Karacan had brought a simple save from Brad Jones with a 20-yard effort with Reading's first strike earlier in the game, but the 20-year-old Turk fell foul of referee Neil Swarbrick and became the first booking of the game after mistiming a challenge on Gary O'Neil as the Boro midfielder set off on a quick break.
Jeremie Aliadiere should have done better with a half chance born out of O'Neil's determination, but hit the first man with an attempted cross.
Despite a confidence-sapping run at home, Reading played with plenty sprit and gave Boro much to think about and it took a fine block from St Ledger to stop Brian Howard's low shot from just inside the box just past the half hour mark.
Howard went close a couple of minutes later with a header that had Jones scrambling across his six-yard box to make sure it went wide.
Approaching half-time the overriding feeling was the Boro probably needed a second goal to make sure and well as they played on the attack they hadn't made the most of their chances.
But it was another positive display away from home.
Half-time: Reading 0 Middlesbrough 1
Brendan Rodgers made a change at the break, replacing Jimmy Kebe with Noel Hunt, but it was Boro who started the brighter as Lita set up Aliadiere, who was quickly crowded out before he had time to take proper control inside the area.
Another sizeable Boro following were encouraged by Boro's start and all were rewarded with 55 minutes played as O'Neil cleared and Leroy Lita turned inside the centre-circle in the Reading half, set off for goal leaving four in his wake and from the edge of the penalty area smashed a low drive away to Federici's right to put Boro two-up.
Rarely, if ever, is an away goal applauded by home fans but that is exactly what happened after a few seconds as the Reading supporters stood to applaud a man they clearly still hold in high esteem.
It should have been three when Joe Bennett threaded a precision pas through the middle from the halfway to pick out Aliadiere, who had made a good run unmarked, but a low shot from the Frenchman was saved at full-stretch by Federici.
Astonishingly, however, referee Swarbrick awarded a goal-kick.
Reading had enjoyed a fair amount of possession, but lacked the threat they carried in the first half, especially down the flanks as Boro has tightened up.
When they managed to deliver inside the Boro box more often than not they found Jones in good form, catching everything that went near him.
Whereas seven days ago at Coventry there was always a chance that unless Boro scored a third what eventually did happen could happen, today there wasn't the same sense that Reading could produce the same as they lacked the cutting edge provided last week by Clinton Morrison and Leon Best.
Nevertheless, a third goal at any stage entering the final 10 minutes would surely secure a fourth away with for Southgate's side.
The Boro fans sang for Southgate to give them a wave and the Reading fans applauding Lita as he was replaced by Emnes.
Well into the final minute Hunt turned sharply on the edge of the Boro box and shot low. Jones made a comfortable enough save and the Reading fans entered into a mocking song noting the fact they had shot for goal.
Boos from the home fans rang out at the whistle. 'There's only one Gareth Southgate' sang the Boro fans, who clapped and cheered another away win to the echo.
Reading: Federici; O'Dea, Ingimarsson, Bertrand, Cummings, McAnuff, Howard, Kebe (Hunt 46), Karacan, Gunnarsson (Sigurdsson 58), Church. Unused subs: Hamer (gk); Matejovsky, Mills, Cisse, Rasiak.
Middlesbrough: Jones; McMahon, Wheater (Capt), St Ledger, Bennett, Yeates (Arca 70), O'Neil, Williams, A Johnson, Lita (Emnes 88), Aliadiere. Unused subs: Coyne (gk); Hoyte, Hines, Grounds, Digard.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Bookings
Reading: Karacan, 22, foul.
Middlesbrough: None
Attendance: 17,638 (1,518 Boro)
Conditions: Overcast, cool and breezy
Website Boro Man of the Match: Leroy Lita
