TWO goals from Nelson Olivera saw a lacklustre Reading FC crash to a 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, writes Lewis Rudd.

Chris O'Grady was also on target for the hosts, who had cancelled out the returning Matej Vydra's 14th-minute opener for the away side - although Ali Al Habsi's attempts to keep the strike out are likely to be met by some scrutiny.

Another blow for Royals saw captain Paul McShane leave proceedings early having landed awkwardly when attacking a corner in the second half.

Forest had to play almost half an hour with 10 men when former Reading target Jack Hobbs picked up two yellow cards for late challenges on Matej Vydra.

Royals duly camped themselves in opposition territory, but were unable to breakdown stubborn Forest resolve on what was an otherwise toothless afternoon for the visitors.

Boss Steve Clarke made the one change from the starting XI which secured a first win in six games when beating Bolton Wanderers last Saturday, and it was an enforced one, with a slight hamstring stain forcing Garath McCleary to miss out against his former club.

Taking his place was the fit-again Vydra, who lined up alongside Lucas Piazon and Nick Blackman in an attacking midfield three.

It was a quite opening to the fixture by both teams, with the only chance of note during the early exchanges coming via an ambitious drive from Eric Lichaj, which crashed stright into an opponent.

The first real attempt, though, did not come until the clock had passed the 10-minute mark, and it went the way of the visitors. 

Working the ball down the right flank saw Nick Blackman wriggle his way into space and chance his luck from the edge of the box, but the club's top scorer this term failed to provide the necessary conviction to trouble Dorus De Vries in the Forest goal, who was presented with easy pickings.

Charging up the field then saw Forest go close to netting the opener. 

Oliveira showed great close control to get the better of Paul McShane and then slip in O'Grady, but the angle was tight and his stike on the turn was swallowed up by Al Habsi diving down to his near post.

The game was now beginning to open up - and it was not long before the deadlock was broken. 

Royals swung a free-kick into the box, which was only half cleared to Oliver Norwood, whose strike at goal was blocked, but the ball fell kindly to an unmarked Vydra, who took a touch before stroking past De Vries at his far post.

Forest appealed for an offside flag against the on-loan forward, but Vydra was celebrating a goal upon his recall to the first team following a recent injury.

Some may argue the strike came against a run of play, but the advantage was to last just six minutes.

The warning signs had been there for Reading, who saw Danny Williams head off the line from a corner before O'Grady was played in again, only for his shot to be deflected away for another flag kick.

Mendes had been a problem for Reading throughout the first half, and it was the Cape Verde international who played a big part in the equaliser.

Sent on his way down the right, the winger squared a low centre into O'Grady, whose first-time strike was initially blocked by Al Habsi, but the effort was too powerful for the 'keeper to handle.

Despite desperatly scrambling along his line, Al-Habsi could only help the ball home. 

Forest continued to aske questions of their guests, but the manner in which they went ahead on 31 minutes will no doubt frustrate boss Clarke.

It was from a Reading corner where the hosts took possession of the ball and broke away through Mendes, who covered some 60 yards before hitting a low, diagonal pass across the channel to Olivera, who took a couple of touches to steady himself before flashing an unstoppable cross into the top corner, giving Al Habsi no chance.

The goal would spur the away side into life, and they would finish the half on top - and only a top draw save prevented them going in at the break on level terms.

Won by Vydra, who was scythed down by Hobbs some 30 yards out - the defender was duly booked for the challenge - the midfielder drove the set piece towards the top corner, where De Vries managed to palm the ball out for a corner at full stretch.

Whatever Clarke told his charges during the interval, however, failed to have the desired affect, as just four minutes into the second half, Olivera made it 3-1.

From a Forest throw in down the left flank, O'Grady showed great strength to get to the byline and drive over an inviting centre which the Portugal international turned home via a cushioned volley on the stretch.

Royals again rallied back, with Blackman free-kick clipping the wall and out for a corner, from where McShane was off target with a header at the far post.

Blackman then opened up from range, but his attempt to find the bottom corner was snuffed out by De Vries.

The away side, however, then received a lifeline when another late challenge by Hobbs on Vydra saw the Forest centre-half shown a second yellow card, which was subsequently followed by the red.

Norwood took the resulting free-kick, from the edge of the box, but could only curl the ball wide of an upright.

Now with the extra man, Clarke reshuffled his pack, bringing on both Paolo Hurtado and Ola John, who replaced the inaffective Lucas Piazon and Orlando Sa respectively.

And it was John who laid on a chance for Vydra from some 10 yards, but the strike was charged down and the half-hearted appeals for handball which followed fell on deaf ears.

Screams for another spot kick could also be heard soon after when Hurtado climbed to meet another John cross, but again any appeals were waved away.

This came just moments after McShane went down heavily when attacking a corner.

The captain was down receiving treatment for some time, but would take no further part, and he was witdrawn for young Rowan Liburd as Clarke further bolstered his attacking options.

Encamped in the Forest half for the final 20 minutes - and  the additional seven of stoppage time - bore not fruit for Royals, either.

Two of the better chances fell to Blackman, but both would sum up the away side's afternoon, with the striker putting one effort over the bar before flashing the other well wide of an upright. 

Both chances were laid on by John, who impressed as a second half substitute, constantly causing Forest problems down the left flank and sending over numerous cross which went unpunished as Reading fell to a second successive defeat on the road.

Nottingham Forest: De Vries, Lichaj, Pinillos, Mills, Hobbs, Mendes (Mancienne 79), Lansbury (c), Vaughan, O'Grady (Trotter 89), Oliveira (WIlson 69), Osborn. Subs not used: Williams, Blackstock, Evitmov, Grant. Goals: O'Grady (20) Olivera (31, 49). Yellow cards: Hobbs, Vaughan. Sent off: Hobbs (66).

Reading: Al Habsi, Gunter, Taylor, McShane (c) (Liburd 85), Hector, Norwood, Williams, Piazon (Hurtado 69), Vydra, Blackman, Sa (John 69). Goal: Vydra 14. Yellow cards: Hector, Williams, John. Subs not used: Bond, Obita, Ferdinand, Cooper.

Referee: Keith Hill.

Attendance: 18,128 (972).