READING FC’s losing start to the Championship season continued with a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

Paul Clement’s men followed up their opening day reverse to Derby County with their first loss on the road on Saturday.

Royals are now bottom of the Championship after two games, having failed to win any of their pre-season matches before that.

And while Reading’s performances against Derby and Forest were far from disastrous, results clearly need to improve.

Clement made three changes to his side including a full debut for Sam Baldock and saw the home side create the first chance when Tendayi Darikwa fired over Vito Mannone’s bar.

The visitors responded with Baldock missing the target from long range then Costel Pantilimon denied Yakou Meite with his legs.

Royals were well organised at the back at that point as Tiago Ilori put in a vital challenge on former loanee Lewis Grabban before Tyler Blackett blocked a Joe Lolley shot.

And when Grabban did managed to carve out a decent chance, Mannone made a crucial save to keep the scores level at the break.

Reading came out firing after the break and almost broke the deadlock when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s header drifted narrowly wide from a Liam Kelly free kick.

The pair linked up again soon after, this time Bodvarsson unable to shoot on target after Kelly had slipped him through.

Bracknell News:

Royals striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson fashions a chance against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Picture: Jason Dawson.

Forest hit back with substitute Matty Cash blazing over from close range from a Ben Osborn delivery.

Clement then made a change and sent on new striker Marc McNulty for his first outing in a Reading shirt with half an hour remaining.

But eight minutes later Royals fell behind when Forest sub Hillal Soudani hitting a superb effort on the turn into the bottom corner.

Clement’s men refused to lie down but could not find a way past Pantilimon as the big Romanian twice denied Bodvarsson in the space of a few minutes after neat work by McNulty and Mo Barrow.

Forest’s defence also stood firm in the closing stages as Reading pushed bodies forward in a desperate search for an equaliser than never came.

Reading host Birmingham City in the Carabao Cup first round on Tuesday night (8pm ko) and also entertain Bolton Wanderers in the Championship this Saturday (3pm ko).

Nottingham Forest: Pantilimon, Figueiredo, Fox (c), Guedioura, Colback, Grabban, Carvalho (Soudani 56), Osborn, Lolley (Robinson 78), Darikwa, Dias (Cash 56). Subs not used: Smith, Watson, Murphy, Dawson.

Reading: Mannone, Yiadom, Blackett (Richards 83), McShane (c), Ilori, Meyler (Bacuna 71), Kelly, Barrow, Méïte, Baldock (McNulty 59), Böðvarsson. Subs not used: Walker, O’Shea, Swift, Clement. Booked: Barrow 80.

Referee: Steve Martin.

Attendance: 27,948 (823 away).