Reading FC got the Paul Ince era underway with a victory as they clung on to beat Birmingham City 2-1 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday night.

After a dull first half, Reading came alive in a five-minute spell in the second, Lucas Joao and John Swift giving the hosts a 2-0 lead. But just when it seemed it would be a comfortable three points, a freak Tom McIntyre own goal left Reading fans with a nervy final few minutes.

In his first game in charge, new interim Royals boss Paul Ince made just one change from the team that beat Preston North End 3-2 on Saturday. Baba Rahman, forced off with a hamstring problem at the weekend, was replaced by the fit-again Tom McIntyre as everything else in the starting XI remained the same.

There was plenty of sharp passing from both sides in the first half an hour but a lack of clear-cut chances. Lucas Joao nearly found Tom Ince through on goal in the opening stages but his pass was slightly too heavy for the winger. 

The visitors then had a flurry of half-chances, Jordan James seeing a tame header caught by Karl Hein before Leandro Bacuna had an effort from outside the box deflected wide. 

The pressure was starting to build on the Royals and Lyle Taylor had a big chance to give Birmingham the lead when he found himself free on the edge of the box - but his attempt to bend his shot around Hein resulted in a weak strike straight at the Arsenal loanee.

Taylor and James each then were denied tap-ins by a matter of inches as Birmingham poured crosses into the box from both wings.

Reading though hit back and Ince should have given his side the lead when Junior Hoilett found him with a terrific cross at the back post. But with only the keeper to beat, Ince couldn’t keep his shot down, groaning with agony as it rose over the bar.

Danny Drinkwater tried his luck from 30 yards, launching it high into Club 1871 as the referee blew up for half-time with the score goalless.

Birmingham started the second period on top and James forced Hein into a smart save when his shot in the box took a slight deflection off of Michael Morrison. Moments later, Taylor flashed one just wide. 

But perhaps, the Blues were fortunate just to keep 11 players on the pitch as Kristian Pederson, already on a yellow, pulled back Joao to stop a Reading break. The referee chose to keep his cards in his pocket.

Despite Birmingham’s promising start to the half, it was Reading who took the lead in the 67th minute, Lucas Joao notching his third goal in four days. There was only one thing on the striker’s mind when he picked the ball up just outside the box and he superbly turned away from his marker before finding the bottom corner with a curling finish.

Joao very nearly doubled the advantage second later but couldn’t get enough on Hoilett’s cross. It wasn't to matter though as Reading did indeed make it 2-0 in the 72nd minute. When Andy Yiadom was bundled over in the box, John Swift stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot.

The complexion of the game completely changed eight minutes from time when Birmingham pulled one back in freak fashion. A deep cross was touched onto the post by Hein and as it came back into play it touched off McIntyre into the back of the net.

Sensing the opportunity, Birmingham piled on the pressure and Taylor went inches from the equaliser as he charged through on goal and lifted the ball over Hein. As it trickled towards the net, Yiadom got back to make a last-ditch clearance.

That proved to be the visitors’ final opportunity as Reading earned their second consecutive victory and the first under new interim manager Paul Ince.

READING FC XI: Hein, Yiadom, Morrison, Holmes, McIntyre, Rinomhota, Drinkwater, Ince (Dele-Bashiru 89’), Swift, Hoilett (Meite 74’), Joao