On this day in 2021, Reading picked up their fifth win in six matches to move to within a point of the play-offs with a 1-0 victory over Barnsley.

Veljko Paunovic's side, who finished seventh in 2020/21, welcomed supporters back to the Select Car Leasing Stadium with open arms but lost four of their opening five matches.

Enjoying an Indian Summer across September and October, the Royals embarked on a run of one defeat in seven, which included memorable wins over Fulham and Cardiff City away from home.

On October 16, only 12,000 turned out to witness the visit of the struggling Tykes, but the match was an entertaining one.

Tom Dele-Bashiru, on loan from Watford, saw an offside flag end celebrations early in the first half before the likes of John Swift and Scott Dann denied by strong saves from goalkeeper Bradley Collins.

Callum Brittain hit the woodwork for the visitors while Cauley Woodrow kept Luke Southwood on his toes throughout.

Swift did the damage with less than 15 minutes remaining, latching onto Dann's long-range pass before cutting in-field and firing into the back of the net for his eighth goal in 12 Championship matches.

Coming in October, Paunovic would not win on home soil again and it would take Reading four months to experience victory in RG2.

Barnsley had reached the play-offs the previous campaign but could not reproduce their form under Valerian Ismael and were eventually relegated come May.

Reading were hit with their first points deductions in November and Paunovic struggled to regain any form, with Paul Ince replacing the Serbian on an interim basis in February and Reading surviving by four points at the expense of Peterborough United.