Match Report:Hull City 1 Reading 0

Robbie Brady's strike ended Hull's long wait for a home goal and victory as they beat Reading 1-0 in the npower Championship.The hosts drew a blank in their opening three home matches in league and cup but finally laid that ghost to rest with a battling performance at the KC Stadium.Aaron McLean saw his early shot blocked and Brady's effort was gathered by Adam Federici as Hull pressed.Reading had a chance to test City's defence midway through the half but the usually reliable Ian Harte lifted his free-kick over everyone and out of play.The Tigers continued to press after the break and the industrious Matt Fryatt saw another powerful right-footed effort turned behind by Federici, who then punched Tom Cairney's inswinging corner clear.They then seized the advantage in the 73rd minute when Brady drilled in from 25 yards, a goal which the Royals had no response to.

Ipswich Capture Sonko

Ipswich Town are set to sign former Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko on a free transfer.

Sonko has been looking for a new club since leaving Stoke Cityat the end of last season and he rejected a move to Greek side PAOK earlier in the summer.

He had been training with his old side Reading in pre-season, but Royals boss Brian McDermott revealed the centre-half turned down the club's contract offer.

The 30-year-old now looks poised to join the Royals' Championship rivals Ipswich after playing for the reserves in a behind-closed-doors game on Tuesday.

Ipswich boss Paul Jewell is anxious to improve his defensive options and is ready to add Sonko to his Portman Road squad.

Jewell is also in the market for a Premier League centre-half, and has been linked with West Brom's Pablo Ibanez and Aston Villa's Shane Lowry

Match Report: Portsmouth 1 Reading 0

Dave Kitson’s close-range strike was the difference as Pompey chalked up their first win of the new Championship season with a 1-0 success over Reading.The former Reading striker netted against his old club as he struck a smart low volley home from Liam Lawrence’s corner early in the second half of a cracking game at Fratton Park.The Blues had the better of the first half as Greg Halford rattled the bar with a shot from the edge of the box that, while Kitson and David Norris both missed glaring opportunities.But Reading had their moments as well as Jimmy Kebe’s diving header clattered the outside of Jamie Ashdown’s goal.
In an entertaining contest, Pompey again looked threatening after the break and got their reward when Kitson found himself unmarked in the box to fire home.And the return of Benjani as a 75th-minute substitute so nearly created the killer second goal as his cross found Luke Varney, only for the forward’s shot to clip the outside of the post.

But Pompey played out time without too much fuss as the clock ticked down with Jason Pearce outstanding in central defence on his debut to hang on to a vital three points to kick-start their campaign.

Reading's Shane Long set for WBA

West Bromwich Albion are poised to smash their transfer record to sign the Reading striker Shane Long, according to reports last night.Albion have held talks with Long's advisers over the weekend and are close to agreeing a fee of between £6m and £7m. It would surpass the £4.7m that the club paid Real Mallorca for the Spanish midfielder Borja Valero three years ago.West Bromwich's desire for a new striker is even more pressing as last season's leading scorer, Peter Odemwingie, is battling to overcome an ankle problem. Albion head coach Roy Hodgson is hoping to sign Long in time for Sunday's Premier League opener with Manchester United at the Hawthorns.It will be the first monetary outlay of the summer by Albion after Gareth McAuley, Zoltan Gera and Billy Jones arrived on Bosman free transfers and Ben Foster joined on loan from Birmingham City.Hodgson has been pursuing Long all summer after the 24-year-old scored 25 goals last season for Reading. West Ham last month failed with a bid thought to total around £7m with add-ons but Reading are believed to have told Long he can join a top-flight side if the price is right. Long has also been linked with Everton and Newcastle United.

Match Report:Reading 2 - 2 Millwall

Reading came back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a dramatic draw against Millwall thanks to substitute Mathieu Manset.Millwall had taken a stranglehold of the game courtesy of headers from Darius Henderson and John Marquis.The visitors appeared set for victory before the intervention of Manset, who pulled a goal back for Reading with a long range strike after 86 minutes.He followed that up with an equalising header from Jimmy Kebe's cross.Reading spent the summer nursing the wounds of their play-off final defeat to Swansea at the end of last season and it seemed they had not fully recovered.Royals striker Shane Long has been linked with leaving the club and he was struggling to make an impact as both sides cancelled each other out in the first half.The stalemate lasted until shortly after the break when ex-Reading striker Henderson struck as he got on the end of a cross from the lively James Henry.The goal stirred Reading and Long into greater action and the striker controlled Jem Karacan's pass before rifling a shot against the crossbar.Noel Hunt also came close to levelling for Reading but was agonisingly inches away as he strived to meet a drilled Kebe cross before Millwall doubled their lead after 62 minutes.Henry and Liam Trotter combined to set up Marquis to provide the finishing touch.Manset was introduced by Reading boss Brian McDermott and the substitution proved an inspired move as he scored twice to rescue a point for the home side.