Reading 0-1 Derby: Tom Ince nets winer as Rams edge win over 10-man Royals

Derby secured their second consecutive Championship victory with a 1-0 success over 10-man Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

An even first half ended controversially when Orlando Sa, Reading's Portuguese striker, was sent off for appearing to head butt Derby defender Jason Shackell.

Derby struggled to make their extra man count but they clinched the three points - and ended Reading's seven-match unbeaten run - when Tom Ince calmly slotted home midway through the second half.

Both sides had enjoyed recent success, with Reading hammering Ipswich 5-1 last Friday.

Derby finally got their first league win, after a sluggish start to the campaign under new head coach Paul Clement, when beating Preston 2-1 away on Saturday.

Derby made the brighter start at the Madejski Stadium, with Jeff Hendrick sending a well-struck shot wide.

But Reading were quick to respond, with Nick Blackman testing Derby goalkeeper Scott Carson with a swerving 30-yard drive. Carson adjusted to the flight late to make a fine save.

As the game ebbed and flowed at a steady pace, Derby could have gone ahead when Ince slung over a free-kick from the right flank.

Derby centre-back Richard Keogh rose alone in the area but could only direct his header straight at home keeper Jonathan Bond.

Jacob Butterfield twice tried his luck from just outside the home area but was denied by last-ditch blocks by the Reading defence.

Carson then had to be alert again at the other end to keep out another effort from 30 yards, this time from Oliver Norwood.

The game took a dramatic turn in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, when Sa was sent off for appearing to aim a head butt at Shackell as the pair argued off the ball.

Referee Andy Davies, on the advice of an assistant, showed the red card to Sa - scorer of a hat-trick against Ipswich - and booked Shackell.

Reading reverted to a lone striker, Matej Vydra, after half-time but Derby showed little urgency in going forward swiftly, preferring the patient approach.

Right-back Cyrus Christie shot woefully wide and, on a rare Reading break, Blackman directed a weak attempt at Carson.

But in the 69th minute, the seemingly inevitable occurred when Derby went in front.

Chris Martin slipped a fine pass through to Ince and he beat Bond with a cool side-footed finish.

Reading showed few signs of getting back into it and Derby were content to hold on to what they had in a tame finish to the match.