Nigel Pearson described Bristol City's performance as careless and accused them of "daydreaming" after leaving Reading empty-handed.
Having named an unchanged side from the team that superbly brushed aside West Brom in the week, City failed to replicate their showing as goals from Mamadou Loum and Andy Carroll were the difference on a bitterly disappointing afternoon across the M4.
After a forgettable first half, Reading opened the scoring from a corner when Loum rose highest at the near post to leave Max O'Leary with no chance. As City failed to register a shot on target, Pearson immediately responded by making a triple substitution including taking off strikers Antoine Semenyo and Nahki Wells.
