Reading 3-0 Barnsley: Reading win in front of season's lowest crowd

Reading moved above Barnsley in the Sky Bet Championship table with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Madejski Stadium.

The Royals went two goals in front inside the opening half-hour through a Dave Edwards header and long-range effort from Joey van den Berg, but Barnsley's hopes of getting back into the match ended when substitute Jon Dadi Bodvarsson headed home two minutes from time.

Reading had not won in three matches and had secured only two victories in nine home league games this season, so Jaap Stam named an unchanged line-up for the first time this season. His side made the stronger opening.

Mo Barrow crossed from the left and Barnsley captain Angus MacDonald, a former Reading youth player, cleared the danger with a diving header.

Another dangerous cross from Barrow was hacked to safety, Liam Kelly had a well-struck shot blocked and then Barrow wasted a promising move with a poor centre.

Reading were eventually rewarded for their attacking intent when they went ahead in the 20th minute. Kelly swung in a corner from the left and Edwards rose unmarked at the near post to nod in his second goal of the season.

Barnsley goalkeeper Adam Davies tried to keep the ball out but it had already crossed the line.

Nine minutes later, Reading increased their lead after a fine solo run from midfielder Van Den Berg. He unleashed a superb 25-yard drive that flew past Davies into the top of the net for his first goal of the campaign.

Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom made a triple substitution at half-time, bringing on leading scorer Tom Bradshaw, Matty Pearson and Mamadou Thiam. It had an initial effect, with Barnsley creating a spell of pressure not seen in the first half, but it came to nothing.

Reading began to find space on the break, in front of their lowest league crowd of the season of 13,317, and Aluko went close to making it 3-0 from a Barrow pass.

Defender Liam Moore also hit a post from 20 yards as Barnsley's attempted comeback - though Harvey Barnes did strike an upright late on - eventually petered out.

Bodvarsson then secured the victory when stooping to nod in the rebound after Davies had tipped an Adrian Popa shot on to the crossbar.