Reading mark 150th anniversary with protests and another defeat to Coventry

Relegation-threatened Reading marked their 150th club anniversary with another Sky Bet Championship defeat as they were beaten 3-2 by Coventry at the SCL Stadium.

It was Royals’ seventh successive league loss and they ended the game with 10 men after the dismissal of winger Junior Hoilett.

Reading went ahead midway through the first half through a Lucas Joao header but Coventry equalised on the stroke of half-time through Dominic Hyam.

Michael Rose made it 2-1 to City shortly after half-time and, though Andy Yiadom levelled it at 2-2, the hosts had Hoilett sent off in the 63rd minute for a second yellow card.

Two minutes later, Ian Maatsen grabbed what proved to be the Coventry winner.

Founded in 1871, Reading had been due to mark their 150th year against Luton on December 18 – but the fixture was postponed after a Covid outbreak in the home camp.

Since then, they have failed to win – losing seven of their eight league and FA Cup fixtures.

About 200 Reading supporters protested outside the stadium before kick off, their anger aimed at manager Veljko Paunovic and Dai Yongge, the club’s Chinese owner.

The fans chanted “We want Pauno out” and “We want our Reading back”. And some displayed a banner that read: “150 years history but how many more?”

Coventry began at a frantic pace, with Gustavo Hamer and Maatsen both squandering early half-chances.

The visitors should have gone ahead soon after, when Callum O’Hare released Viktor Gyokeres on a quick break.

Coventry’s 12-goal top scorer unleashed a fierce shot but home goalkeeper Karl Hein made an excellent one-handed save.

Reading gradually settled but Junior Hoilett’s tame header, from a Tom Ince cross, barely troubled City keeper Simon Moore.

However, they were better