Reading FC win first game of the season over Cardiff City

Cardiff City took the lead within just four minutes but Shane Long's penalty and Ince's strike ensured a 2-1 win over the Welsh outfit.

It took just four minutes for the deadlock to be broken as former Bristol City star O’Dowda evaded his market to nod home a smart header at the back post, rewarding the visitors for their early domination. This theme continued for much of the opening 25 minutes as the Royals, similar to last week at Blackpool, began the match second best. O’Dowda nearly got a first half brace within the opening 15 minutes when he was set free on the right-hand side, and he fired a shot low across Joe Lumley. The on-loan Middlesbrough stopper managed to deny the Bluebird with a strong left arm, gathering at the second attempt.

Despite being largely chasing the game, Ince’s men looked promising on the counter, firing crosses across the box but evading those in the middle.

Ince Jr took matters into his own hands, springing the offside trap to race clear on the half hour mark, even rounding Ryan Allsopp in the net before being dragged to the floor by Curtis Nelson. To cries of ‘OFF OFF OFF’ it was only a booking for the former Oxford United defender, but a spot kick, nonetheless.

Almost written in the stars, up steps iconic former striker Long on his second home debut, coolly slotting past Allsop to level the scores.

Seeing less of the ball, it was the hosts who looked the more likely to take a lead into the break. Andy Yiadom twice skipped past his opposite number to fizz crosses into the box, but Guinness-Walker could only turn the cross over the bar at the back post.

Similar to the first half it was the visitors making a fast start in the second half, very nearly retaking the lead were it not for McIntyre’s decisive interception under the crossbar.

However, on the hour mark something clicked and from then on it was the hosts looking most likely. Ovie Ejaria felt his way into the game and had an almost unstoppable period before being subbed on in which he managed to nutmeg a defender backwards and play a keep part in the Royals’ second.

Guinness-Walker and Ejaria linked up in the midfield, leaving a Bluebird in their wake, before sliding a pass into Ince.

Striding forward into the open space, the former Derby County star blasted a strike into the top corner past a helpless Allsop to give the hosts the lead for the first time this campaign.

Despite very little in the way of chances in the remaining half hour, the match was balanced on a sixpence. Both Steve Morison’s side and Reading pressed hard for crucial goals but a series of long delays put pay to any meaningful attempts as the clock ticked toward a conclusion.