QPR lose at Reading after Bidwell’s late penalty is saved

Reading 1 QPR 0

---

Jake Bidwell had an injury-time penalty saved at the Madejski Stadium, where Sone Aluko’s superb goal gave Reading victory in a match QPR dominated for large spells.

The home side were put under sustained pressure and played the final nine minutes with 10 men after Yann Kermorgant was sent off.

Bidwell stepped up after Pawel Wszolek was fouled in the area by David Edwards.

But keeper Vito Mannone kept out his spot-kick to deny Rangers what would have been a deserved point.

After former Fulham man Aluko struck on 13 minutes, Rangers missed chances and had a goal disallowed.

Aluko collected the ball on the right, sped away from Bidwell and then sent an unstoppable shot beyond keeper Alex Smithies and into the top corner of the net.

It gave the Royals the perfect start to new manager Paul Clement’s reign – but Conor Washington should have brought Rangers level almost immediately after the goal.

After Reading’s Tiago Ilori had given the ball away, Wszolek teed up Washington, who fired wide.

Paul Smyth also missed a chance for Rangers, volleying over after Mannone failed to clear Luke Freeman’s free-kick.

And Joel Lynch was in an offside position when nudging Freeman’s shot into the net shortly before half-time.

Matt Smith was brought on for Washington midway through the second half and went close when he headed Bidwell’s cross wide.

Ebere Eze, also on as a substitute for the R’s, shot narrowly wide before Kermorgant was dismissed after a foul on Darnell Furlong earned him a second yellow card.