Aston Villa 1 Reading 3 - Report

Mendes fired the play-off chasing Royals ahead inside the opening six minutes after pouncing on a Jordan Amavi error.

Skipper James Chester brought the hosts level with a header during an entertaining first-half.

But Mendes struck again in the opening seconds of the second period before Lewis Grabban made the game safe from the penalty spot.

Analysis

The 30 seconds which preceded the Royals’ third goal summed up some of the defensive sloppiness which cost Villa dear on a day when they were hunting a sixth successive home league win.

Bacuna had initially cut out a Reading counter attack but then promptly fell over the ball allowing the visitors to race clear, before committing the foul in the box when he pulled back Liam Kelly.

Villa had conceded just twice in the nine games preceding this one but lacked the solidity of those performances, with Neil Taylor a big miss at left-back.

Having vowed to utilise his squad as much as possible during a Bank Holiday weekend which sees Villa play twice in 48 hours, Bruce made just one change from the team which drew 1-1 at Burton last weekend.

Conor Hourihane replaced Taylor, who was absent through injury, with Amavi dropping back to cover the latter’s defensive duties at left-back.

The France under-21 international experienced a difficult start to the game, looking confident in Reading’s final third but less so in Villa’s own.

One slip saw saw Kelly attempt an audacious lob from 40 yards out which drifted well wide of the target.

A second error, just a minute later, was duly punished by Mendes, who strode into the Villa box before firing a low drive past Sam Johnstone to give Reading the lead and become the first opposing player to score at Villa Park since Valentine’s Day.

Villa had looked dangerous in attack themselves and only a brilliant save from Ali Al Habsi kept out a Mile Jedinak shot which had been re-directed at close range by Henri Lansbury.

Sadly for the Reading keeper, his heroics preserved his side’s lead only a few seconds longer as Lansbury whipped in the resulting corner and Chester rose at the far post to head Villa level.

The only surprise thereafter was that there were not more goals before the break.

Mendes missed a glorious chance to restore the lead when he blazed over Lewis Grabban’s cross from close range after a quick counter had left Villa all at sea.

Johnstone was also forced into a smart diving save to keep out John Swift’s dipping long range effort.

For Villa, Hourihane lashed a 25-yard shot a foot or so over the bar, while an Albert Adomah cross proved just too high for an unmarked Leandro Bacuna at the far post.

Then, with just seconds of the half remaining, a Bacuna error presented Grabban with the ball ten yards out but his shot was straight at Johnstone.

Mendes showed far greater poise to restore Reading’s lead less than 30 seconds after the restart. Again the visitors found joy down the left-flank and again it was Grabban who fired the ball into the box. This time Mendes made no mistake to fire it past Johnstone and put the Royals 2-1 up.

Just as in the first half, Villa looked for a quick response and a whipped in cross from Hourihane was just too far in front of Jonathan Kodjia.

But the better chances and the greater threat now firmly lay with the visitors and only a strong save from Johnstone prevented Grabban from giving them a two-goal cushion.

Amavi’s afternoon was ended just past the hour mark as he was replaced by Hogan. The latter squandered a great chance to level things up again when he fired over from a Jedinak pull-back.

A further switch from Bruce brought the arrival of Jack Grealish, with Jedinak and and Bacuna dropping back into defence.

Kodjia, who had been well shackled, found space in the box but his shot was deflected just wide.

Villa were building a head of steam but with 11 minutes remaining Grabban made the game safe. Bacuna bringing down Kelly in the box having moments earlier fallen over the ball to set up Reading’s counter attack. Grabban made no mistake from the spot, rolling the ball into the corner and sending Johnstone the wrong way.

Key moments

6 - GOAL - Reading take the lead, becoming the first away team to score at Villa Park since Barnsley on Valentine’ Day. A mistake by Jordan Amavi allows Joseph Mendes to race into the box and finish past Villa keeper Sam Johnstone.

13 - A brilliant save from Ali Al Habsi preserves the visitors lead. Mile Jedinak’s shot is re-directed by Henri Lansbury and looked to have the Reading keeper wrong-footed but he makes a superb adjustment to keep it out.

14 - GOAL - Villa are level. Al Habsi is beaten just seconds after his brilliant save as James Chester rises to head home Lansbury’s corner at the far post.

31 Mendes misses a glorious chance to grab his second of the game, firing over Lewis Grabban’s cross with just Johnstone to beat.

46 - GOAL - Mendes nets his second of the game to restore Reading’s lead. This time he makes no mistake with Grabban’s cross, firing home from six yards.

57 - More good pressure from the visitors ends with Johnstone saving Grabban’s fierce drive.

68 Scott Hogan misses a great chance to level the scores, firing over first-time from Mile Jedinak’s pull-back.

79 GOAL Grabban makes the game safe for Reading, firing home from the penalty spot after Bacuna pulls back Liam Kelly.

Teams

Villa (4-1-4-1): Johnstone, Hutton, Chester (c), Baker (Grealish 76), Amavi (Hogan 61), Jedinak, Adomah, Lansbury, Bacuna, Hourihane, Kodjia Subs not used: Richards, Elphick, Bree, Gardner, Sarkic (gk).

Reading (4-3-3): Al-Habsi, Gunter (c), Moore, Blackett, Obita, Swift, Williams, Kelly (Evans 86), Popa (McCleary 65), Mendes (Kermorgant 69), Grabban Subs not used: Meite, Ilori, Mutch, Jaakkola (gk).