It's finished 2-1 to Reading - a precious three points for the Royals but Birmingham are now in real trouble at the bottom.

Birmingham are desperately searching for a second equaliser but time is almost up

Time running out for Birmingham now - a defeat will put them deep in relegation trouble

Jerome is straight into the action and heads straight at Hahnemann

Matejovsky is also replaced by Kalifa Cisse

Jerome is on for Forssell

The goal was very similar to the opener and Birmingham's poor marking was again exposed

Bikey does it again to put Reading 2-1 up, heading home from a free-kick

Ridgewell is booked

Oster is replaced by Shane Long

Birmingham are in the ascendancy following the equaliser and look the more likely to win it now

Forssell turns and shoots but Hahnemann makes a fine save to tip the ball round the post

It could go either way now after that Zarate equaliser

McLeish makes a change with McSheffrey replaced by Garry O'Connor

The Birmingham fans are in fine voice after that equaliser - this could be a precious point for the Blues

Zarate equalises for Birmingham, tapping the ball home from close range

Alex McLeish must be pondering whether to make a change with striker Cameron Jerome an option

Birmingham defend a couple of quick corners from Reading well, still the home side on top

Birmingham are lacking the penetration at the minute to hurt Reading

Matejovsky fouls Jaidi but Murphy's free-kick comes to nothing

Doyle does well down the left and finds Oster but he blasts the ball over - a great chance for Reading to extend their lead

McSheffrey's cross is cleared by Nicky Shorey but Birmingham have began the half well

Larsson's corner is cleared away by Dave Kitson

The second half gets underway with Birmingham in need of an equaliser

Half-time and Reading lead thanks to Bikey's glancing header

Ridgwell tests Hahnemann with a decent strike as Blues continue to look for an equaliser

Heading towards half-time and Reading just about deserve their lead

McSheffrey's free-kick is well claimed by Hahnemann

Oster almost makes it 2-0 but Taylor turns his shot over the bar

Birmingham almost hit back immediately but Forssell drags his shot just wide

Andre Bikey's glancing header from a John Oster cross puts Reading in front

Matejovsky has another chance but his header is straight into Taylor's arms

Marek Matejovsky forces Taylor into a fine low save, it's been an entertaining end-to-end game

Forssell's header is wide as Birmingham break well again

Both sides have had chances to score so far but it remains goalless

Radhi Jaidi heads narrowly over the bar at the other end - lively so far at the Madejski

The space opened up for Hunt for that shot as Birmingham's defence backed off

Hunt breaks forward and strikes an effort that clips the top of the bar - the closest to a goal so far

Kevin Doyle almost gets on the end of a loose ball in the box for Reading but Liam Ridgewell does well to clear

Sebastian Larsson's cross is caught well by Marcus Hahnemann

Gary McSheffrey wastes a decent chance for Birmingham, firing just wide

It's been a tense start to the game with both sides well aware a defeat could be a disaster as they battle to avoid the drop

David Murphy brings down Liam Rosenior for a Reading free-kick

Stephen Hunt's cross is very dangerous but Maik Taylor claims it well - Reading have started well though

It's a crucial game at the bottom of the table at the Madejski Stadium - the action gets underway

Birmingham bring in Mauro Zarate and Medhi Nafti while James McFadden is out having had keyhole surgery. Reading make just one change with Dave Kitson coming in for Shane Long up front.