READING notched up a fifth successive Championship victory with a 2-1 home win against Bristol City.

A seventh of the season from Garath McCleary and a peach from Roy Beerens in the first half settled this M4 derby at Madejski Stadium, despite a late goal from City skipper Gary O'Neil.

Royals boss Jaap Stam may continue to play down promotion talk, but there is no doubt his side are firmly in the hunt.

They have quality all over the pitch and the more they get used to Stam's systems and formations, the better them seem to get.

The goals are coming freely and they still have injured duo Yann Kermorgant and Deniss Rakels – plus the January transfer window – to add to their firepower.

Admittedly, Reading's second-half display was far from convincing once again and Stam will need to find the reasons why his players have been guilty of slacking off after the break.

But overall Royals simply had too much for Lee Johnson's visitors who have now lost five of their last seven games.

With Kermorgant and John Swift still injured, Stam kept the same team that brushed Burton Albion aside a week earlier, though fit-again Jake Cooper did make a welcome return to the bench in place of Danzel Gravenberch.

That meant a second start up front for Dominic Samuel following his goalscoring league debut against the Brewers.

Stam also kept faith with his formation of three at the back, a flexible midfield and Roy Beerens supporting Samuel.

City may have arrived in poor form after four defeats in six, but that didn't stop more than 3,500 of their fans from making the trip down the M4.

Royals created the first opening when Chris Gunter's cross reached Samuel whose first-time effort deflected wide of the bear post with two minutes gone.

Then two minutes Jordan Obita got free down the left and whipped over a superb cross that Joe Bryan chested behind for a corner, narrowly averting an own goal.

Royals were using the full width of the pitch to their advantage, and nine minutes in McCleary went clear only for Frank Fielding to grab his low cross off Samuel's toe.

But Robins paid for their sloppy start by then conceding a penalty when Hordur Magnusson tripped Samuel as he chased Paul McShane's pass.

Referee Tim Robinson consulted with his linesman before pointing to the spot and although Fielding saved McCleary's penalty, Royals winger reacted quickest and slammed home the rebound.

It was the jolt City needed and they threatened to pull one back three minutes later when Aden Flint's drilled an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

But they were soon in double trouble as Reading scored a brilliant second with 19 minutes gone.

McCleary linked up with Gunter down the right and the latter's volleyed pass found Beerens who smashed a superb volley himself past Fielding and into the far corner from 12 yards out.

Again, Royals gave the Robins a sniff at goal shortly after scoring when a fierce shot from Tomlin was expertly saved by Ali Al Habsi.

Chelsea-loanee Tammy Abraham then fired a foot over the bar from a well-worked corner routine before Al Habsi pulled off an incredible reflex save to deny Bobby Reid from point-blank range, though the linesman's flag was already raised.

Royals' keeper was called into action again on the half-hour mark when he punched away a stinking Jamie Paterson effort on the angle.

Royals weathered that spell, regained control and began playing some attractive stuff.

One fluid move involving defence and midfield ended with an audacious – and botched- bicycle kick from Beerens, to the Royals' winger's embarrassment.

The last chance of the first half went to the visitors, Al Habsi spilling Reid's effort before McShane cleared the danger.

Royals went in comfortably on top and knowing they still had another gear to find.

Robins, meanwhile, had plenty of room for improvement and they went close five minutes after the restart from O'Neil's first-time effort from an Abrahams assist was held by Al Habsi.

Two minutes later Paterson dragged a left-footed shot wide from the edge of the box after neat build-up play from the Robins.

It led to a period of end-to-end stuff as McCleary cut inside from the byline and saw his powerful drive palmed away by Fielding with 53 minutes gone.

But City went immediately down the other end, with Reid's effort from distance forcing Al Habsi to dive full-stretch and push it around the post.

The resulting flag-kick then bounced around the six-yard box before Moore could desperately clear the danger.

City had to find a foothold in the game so Johnson made a double change just short of the hour by replacing Mark Little and Paterson with Callum O'Dowda and Aaron Wilbraham.

But for all the effort they showed going forward, a series of attacks floundered on Reading's rock-solid defence, with McShane and Moore clearing things up time and time again.

And as City poured more and more men forward, they left spaces at the back which Royals failed to punish on the counter attack.

Stam still had the luxury of giving Yakou Meite and Callum Harriott some vital minutes on the pitch in the closing stages.

They almost conceded from a slick City move with 11 minutes remaining, but McShane threw his body in the way of Reid's stinging effort to save a certain goal.

But the visitors did set up a nervy finish with four minutes to go when O'Neil strode forward and fired a low drive into the far corner from 20 yards, giving Al Habsi no chance.

It was the first goal Reading had conceded 446 minutes of football stretching back to the last-gasp 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa on October 18.

And Royals hearts were in mouths in the closing moments when the visitors won a series of corners, but they couldn't cash in.

Reading held on to secure the victory which leaves them six points behind leaders Newcastle United, who lost to Blackburn.

Royals face a trip to Fulham on Saturday (3pm).