ROYALS boss Brendan Rodgers insisted his side did not deserve to suffer more Madejski Stadium misery following Wednesday night's 1-0 loss to Cardiff City.

A Chris Burke strike just before the hour mark was enough to secure all three points for the Welsh club - and extend Reading horrendous home run to 13 league games without a win.

Royals' last home victory - a 1-0 success against Wolves in January - is now a long and distant memory.

Since then they have suffered eight defeats with just five draws to show for their efforts. And it is not difficult to see where the route of their problems lie.

Royals have found then net in only three of those unlucky 13 games, a 2-2 draw with Charlton and a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City last season.

Their other goal came from Matthew Mills in a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United last month - the only time Rodgers' men have scored at home this season.

Rodgers attempted to find a cure by naming two strikers in his starting line-up with Grzegorz Rasiak handed a full debut next to Noel Hunt.

But Royals still failed to beat City goalkeeper David Marshall, despite playing the last 15 minutes with a one-man advantage following Stephen McPhail's straight red for a high tackle on Jem Karacan.

It added up to another frustrating night at the Madejski Stadium and another set-back for Rodgers.

But Royals' boss remained positive: "Sometimes in football you just don't get what you deserve and I thought we were fantastic," he declared.

"Cardiff will be delighted to come away with three points. Some of our play is outstanding and, game on game, it's getting better."

But luck has also deserted Royals during this barren run and Burke's goal on Wednesday summed up their struggles.

"Ryan Bertrand's legs got caught up at the back post and the Cardiff midfielder put the ball in the only area of the net he could have scored," explained Rodgers. "Apart from the goal it was all one-way and defensively we were strong.

"I feel for the players because they are giving so much. But a basic cross, a nudge in the back on Darren O'Dea, a stumble from Ryan and we're 1-0 down. It's that incredible moment that has lost us the game."

Royals threatened to break the deadlock through Hunt, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Rasiak, Brian Howard and the recalled Marek Matejovsky.

And goalkeeper Adam Federici nearly repeated his Boxing Day trick of scoring an injury-time equaliser against Bluebirds with spectacular overhead kick in the very last minute.

Sadly, there was no fairytale finish this time and Marshall easily collected.

Federici, however, also made a couple of important saves at the other end and was grateful to see Michael Chopra's effort roll an inch wide.

Rodgers' side also benefited from a huge let off when Burke lost his footing with the goal at his mercy just a minute after he had scored.

Even so, the visitors held on for the win despite having McPhail sent off in the 75th minute.

Rodgers added: "I think the benchmark for me is quite clear - we've played the top teams and we've been right up there. It's just a matter of inches.

"It's not as if we are losing game after game with no level of performance. The performances have been strong from a young team. We had five players under the age of 21.

"I'm very optimistic and it's only a matter of time, we're getting closer and closer to that."

And he stressed: "The supporters were unbelievable. They recognise that we're very, very shortly going to turn the corner. Our luck is out at the moment, but it will turn."

Royals travel to struggling Peterborough United on Saturday with Darren Ferguson's side searching for their first win of the season. Reading's only Championship victory of this campaign came on the road in a 3-1 success at Barnsley.

"We have to regroup, reflect on the game and we'll go to Peterborough looking to win our next couple of games," vowed Rodgers, who faces his former club Watford at home on Saturday week.

"The players will be super. We always have an open discussion on how we're going to improve and, in this game, you have to deal with failure as well as the success.

"These guys have just missed out after putting in a wonderful performance. We will now seek to turn those performances into points.

"Last season this club had a great run and then, all of a sudden, that disappeared. A run can quickly go the other way and that is something we are definitely capable of."

The win moved Cardiff up to fourth and Jones stated: "With Reading not winning at home since January, we really didn't want to be the team to come here and lift the monkey off their back.

"We've had some right good battles with Reading over the last few seasons, it's a difficult place to come to, and to go home with three points is hard earned and well deserved."

Reading (4-4-2): Federici - Cummings, Pearce, O'Dea, Bertrand - Matejovsky, Karacan (Kebe 78), Howard, Sigurdsson - Hunt (Church 57), Rasiak. Subs not used: Hamer, Ingimarsson, Mills, Cisse, Tabb.

Cardiff (4-4-2): Marshall - Matthews (Quinn 32), Hudson, Gerrard, Kennedy - Burke, McPhail, Ledley (Taiwo 87), Whittingham - Bothroyd, Chopra (Rae 79). Subs not used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Capaldi, Magennis.

Booked: Gerrard (foul 34), Hudson (timewasting 83). Sent off: McPhail (foul 75).

Referee: Paul Taylor (Herts).

Attendance: 16,687.