Leicester City 1 - 2 Reading - 28th August 2010

A late header from defender Matt Mills was enough to give Reading their first league win of the season as they saw off hosts Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium.

Gylfi Sigurdsson struck first for the visitors before Lloyd Dyer’s fine strike put Leicester level in the second half.

But with four minutes remaining, Mills leapt above the Leicester defence to head home Brian Howard’s corner kick.

The result condemned the Foxes to their third loss in four games, leaving them with just one point – their worst start to a season in sixteen years.

Leicester started brightly with Lloyd Dyer forcing Royals’ goalkeeper Adam Federici into action early on with a mazy run and shot on target.

But the hosts seemed to fade early in the first half, allowing Reading to stamp their authority on the game, and came close with Matt Mills heading just wide for the visitors.

But Brian McDermott’s men were ahead soon after when Foxes’ defender Moreno gave away possession on the edge of the penalty area, where Gylfi Sigurdsson was on hand to chip the ball past over Leicester goalkeeper Conrad Logan.

Leicester were denied a penalty after 33 minutes when Lloyd Dyer appeared to be pulled to the ground by Reading defender Shane Cummings, after latching onto Paul Gallagher's through ball.

Shane Long should have put his side 2-0 ahead before half time when he found himself unmarked and on the end of a good ball into the penalty area, but his tame header on goal failed to really trouble the goalkeeper.

Leicester were a different side in the second half and were soon level through Lloyd Dyer’s excellent long range strike into the bottom corner.

It was no more than Dyer deserved after an excellent performance on the left wing, causing the Reading defence no end of trouble all afternoon.

At the other end, Jimmy Kebe came close for Reading shortly afterwards when the Malian international forced goalkeeper Conrad Logan into making a fantastic save after a good shot on target.

Steve Howard fired over for the Foxes with ten minutes to go, and Adam Federici was forced into action again, making a stunning save to deny Lloyd Dyer his second goal of the game after his shot was tipped around the post after a good cross from Franck Moussa.

However, the visitors eventually regained the lead against the run of play with just four minutes remaining when Matt Mills headed past Logan from a pinpoint corner kick from Brian Howard.

Leicester rallied for an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game, and came closest when Steve Howard’s effort was cleared off the line by Mills.

Andy King eventually found the back of the net for the Foxes moments later, but his strike was disallowed after substitute Matty Fryatt was adjudged to have fouled Matt Mills in the build up.

It was another day of frustration for Paulo Sousa and Leicester City, who played well for long periods and arguably deserved at least a point from the game.

But Reading hung on for a much needed three points - a result which boosted them up to thirteenth in the Championship, while Paulo Sousa’s men remain in the bottom three at this early stage of the season.

Man of the Match – Matt Mills