21 games down in the 2022/23 campaign, Reading sit 12th in the Championship as the country turns its attention to the World Cup.

Picking up nine wins, and 10 defeats, the Royals have experienced the highs of topping the table and the lows of heavy defeats during the early exchanges- with every emotion in between.

Here are three highs, and three lows, of the season so far.

Reading Chronicle:

HIGHS

Reading 3-0 Blackburn Rovers: Tuesday, August 17

A mixed start, with one win and two defeats, nobody was expecting Reading to table-toppers Blackburn to the sword.

Rovers, under new boss Jon Dahl Tomasson, had won every game up until this point and were early pace setters.

Dominant from the start, the hosts took the lead inside 15 minutes through Tom McIntyre's header.

Only taking a slim lead into the break, fans need not worry as the visitors continued to disappoint and Junior Hoilett added a second with a powerful effort from inside the box.

Lucas Joao, making his first appearance of the season, wrapped up the points within moments of coming off the bench, placing past Thomas Kaminski in the net.

The win left confidence coursing through everyone's veins, winning the next three matches.

Millwall 0-1 Reading: Saturday, August 27

The third of the three straight wins, the Royals soared to the summit with a win at the Den- their first in Bermondsey for over six years.

Naby Sarr, despite spending over a month in Berkshire, was unable to sign until George Puscas departed, and marked his first appearance in South London.

The centre-half took just 14 minutes to take his chance, powering home a free-kick to give the visitors an early lead.

Shane Long and Jeff Hendrick blew good chances to make it an easier afternoon but the defence held firm to keep a clean sheet and hit the top of the table.

Hull City 1-2 Reading: saturday, November 12

With just one win in nine during October and November, the Royals had slipped into the bottom half of the table.

With a four week break on the horizon, a positive afternoon on Humberside was vital for confidence and early points on the board.

Falling behind early to Jacob Greaves, the visitors rallied and Yakou Meite levelled the scores on the half hour mark.

A scrappy second half looked to be fading into a draw, but Andy Carroll's powerful header was deflected into his own net by Ryan Longman to steal all three points for Reading, and send the 300 or so fans home happy.

LOWS

Rotherham United 4-0 Reading: Saturday, August 13

A day to forget for all associated with the club, everything went wrong in South Yorkshire on this day.

Conceding all four inside the first half, Joe Lumley made a couple of high-profile errors which were duly punished by the Millers.

Failing to respond in the second period, it would make it five let in and zero scored in the first two away trips of the campaign.

Reading 0-3 Sunderland: Wednesday, September 14

Reading, previously winners in every game at the SCL Stadium until that point, could go back to the top of the table with a win over newly-promoted Sunderland.

Instead, it was a sloppy, tired performance and the Black Cats punished Reading live on Sky Sports.

Two goals from Patrick Roberts on the stroke of half-time made it a difficult task and Jack Clarke sealed the win with 20 minutes remaining.

It was the first of just two home matches Reading are yet to socre in.

Burnley 2-1 Reading: Saturday, October 29

As opposed to a heavy defeat, the loss at Turf Moor was a whole lot tighter.

League leaders Burnley fell behind to the Royals after Tom Ince clipped an effort over the keeper in the second half.

Manuel Benson levelled 10 minutes later and it looked as though the Royals were to earn a hard-fought point.

However, controversy struck in stoppage time as a blatant penalty on Ince was turned down and Anass Zaroury went up the other end to suckerpunch the visitors and nick all three points.