BRISTOL CITY ended a seven-match losing streak against Reading FC with a 1-0 victory at Madejski Stadium.

Royals were punished for missing a glut of chances when defender Aden Flint fired home an 84th minute winner for Lee Johnson’s side.

The victory also ended Reading’s 13-match unbeaten home record and posed further questions about the team’s attacking threat.

Wolves signing Jon Dadi Bodvarsson missed a string of opportunities to give Jaap Stam’s men the lead, while Mo Barrow and Sone Aluko also failed to find the net.

Stam searched high and low for a new striker in the transfer window but failed to come up trumps.

Here, a clinical frontman would have certainly made a huge difference to the scoreline after a day in front of goal Royals will want to forget.

Bracknell News:

Sone Aluko made his Reading FC debut against Bristol City.

Stam handed a debut to club-record signing Aluko and a home debut to Bodvarsson, who scored in the 2-0 win at Birmingham City last time out.

But it was City who threatened first in the fourth minute when Famara Diedhiou blazed a free-kick into the north stand.

Then three minutes later Bobby Reid lifted the ball over Vito Mannone’s crossbar from a Callum O’Dowda cross.

It took Royals 12 minutes to muster their first genuine chance, only for Aluko’s effort from 25 yards to drift harmlessly behind.

They went even closer five minutes later, only for Mo Barrow’s finishing to let him down after Aluko had picked out the ex-Swansea man with an inviting cross.

Aluko was not afraid to shoot from almost anywhere, the former Fulham player firing one wide from 25-yards after neat inter-play with Liam Kelly.

City were happy to contain the visitors most of the time, though a 25th minute corner almost brought rewards when it was half cleared to O’Dowda who narrowly missed the target.

Bracknell News:

Chris Gunter clears the danger against Bristol City.

But two minutes later it needed a smart save from Robins keeper Frank Fielding to deny Kelly from outside the area and keep the scores level.

City were soon under pressure again, McShane winning possession before releasing Barrow on a 70-yard run into the City area.

Sadly, Barrow’s final ball did not match the build-up and was easily cut out as he looked to find Bodvarsson and Aluko in support.

McShane then headed over from Kelly’s 34th minute corner before Kelly sliced a shot wide of the near post following a swift Royals counter-attack.

Royals looked dangerous going forward, but they lacked composure in the final third.

They were also grateful to see the ball roll a foot wide of their own goalpost when Vita Mannone took his eye off Liam Moore’s back-pass in the 38th minute.

Bracknell News:

Liam Kelly has a shot against Bristol City.

Stam’s men regrouped and only a cynical foul from City defender Nathan Baker could stop Barrow from racing clear, with referee James Linington deciding a yellow was enough.

Royals remained on the front foot after the break with Barrow setting up Bodvarsson, who missed his kick in front of goal.]

Leandro Bacuna then saw his 25-yard drive tipped around the post by Fielding before Barrow rifled an effort across goal but just wide of the far post.

Yet City also blew a gilt-edged chance to break thr deadlock on 58 minutes when Reid slipped in Jamie Paterson who lifted the ball over Mannone but inches wide of the far stick.

Stam sent on fresh legs soon after with David Edwards replacing Kelly for his Royals debut and Barrow making way for Garath McCleary.

And the hosts carved out another clear-cut chance with 18 minutes to go when Aluko picked out Bodvarsson in front of goal, but the Icelandic striker failed to get a good connection and scuffed his effort wide.

It had been a frustrating afternoon for Bodvarsson who missed at least three decent chances to put Reading in front before being subbed with 13 minutes left on the clock.

And how costly they proved to be when Flint fired City in front in the 84th minute.

Reading failed to clear the lines properly and when the ball dropped to Flint, the Robins centre-half hit stinging effort that caught Mannone by surprise and squirmed into the corner of the net, despite a strong hand from the Royals keeper.

Stam’s men pushed for an equaliser with substitute Roy Beerens going close in the 90th minute, but City held on for a memorable win.

Reading are back Championship action next Saturday when they go to Brentford.

Reading: Mannone, Gunter, Blackett, Moore, McShane (c), Van den Berg, Kelly (Edwards 63), Bacuna, Barrow (McCleary 69), Aluko, Böðvarsson (Beerens 77). Subs not used: Jaakkola, Evans, Ilori, Clement. Booked: Van den Berg 32.

Bristol City: Fielding, Vyner, Flint, Baker, Bryan, O'Dowda (Pack 86), Brownhill, K.Smith, Paterson, Reid, Diedhiou (Leko 70). Subs not used: Wright, Steele, Woodrow, Eliasson, Magnusson. Booked: Baker 41.

Referee: James Linington.

Attendance: 18,650 (Bristol City 3,391).