Mike Dean blows the final whistle and Portsmouth take the three points from a game they were always going to win following Sonko's fourth minute dismissal.

A rare mix up in the Portsmouth defence as a lack of communication between James and Distin almost allowed Dave Kitson to head the ball into the back of the net, but who was there for Portsmouth? Sol Campbell.

The fourth official indicates two minutes of added time.

The Pompey supporters are cheering every pass from their team now as they kept possession of the ball for two minutes.

Niko Krancjar is replaced by Matt Taylor.

Reading won a corner after some good determination and luck from Shane Long as the striker crossed the ball into the area after it looked to have crossed the byline by about a foot.

Sulley Muntari moved inside with the ball at his feet and drilled the ball right accross the face of Hahnemann's goal, but the American always had it covered.

Richard Hughes is replaced by Lauren.

Kevin Doyle is replaced by Shane Long.

A glorious chance for Reading to try and make something of the last eight minutes of the game as the ball fell to Stephen Hunt's weaker left foot with the Irishman completely missing it.

Kevin Doyle is having to come deeper and deeper to see any of the ball which is leaving Dave Kitson isolated up front on his own.

Andre Bikey is booked for persistant fouling by Mike Dean.

Marcus Hahnemann did well to make a sharp save down to his right hand side from Glen Johnson who drilled a right footed shot goalwards as he broke forward down the right once again.

James Harper is playing in a more advanced position now and has assumingly been told to push further forward with Reading having nothing to lose.

Glen Johnson was brave to get in the way of Doyle's shot from eight yards out and Sol Campbell was there to help him out and clear the ball out of the area.

Ulises De la Cruz was straight into the action as he did brilliantly to get down the left and put a cross into the area with his weaker foot, but unfortunately it was too high for Stephen Hunt to get to.

Krancjar delivered a fantastic dangerous corner into the box for Portsmouth but Marcus Hahnemann did well to get a strong fist on the ball to punch clear.

Nicky Shorey is replaced by Ulises De la Cruz in a like for like change.

The home crowd has certainly quietened down and surely there is no way back for Reading now.

GOAL! READING 0 - 2 PORTSMOUTH (UTAKA) John Utaka used his pace to brake clear and burn off Nicky Shorey before cleverly rounding Marcus Hahnemann and slotting the ball into and empty net.

Steve Coppell will be pleased at Benjani making way and relieved his defence won't have to deal with his pace and strength any longer.

Nwankwo Kanu comes on to replace Benjani for Portsmouth.

Kalifa Cisse is booked for kicking out at Papa Boupa Diop.

Harry Redknapp has got some of his substitutes warming up on the touchline and could freshen his side up, they certainly look tired after the strenuous Festive period.

Mike Dean let play go on but came back to book Richard Hughes who had made a late tackle on Cisse as Reading broke forward.

James Harper just couldn't do enough to get his head over the ball as he volleyed from the edge of the area and it was always rising as it flew over the cross bar.

Andre Bikey burst forward from the back and played Stephen Hunt in behind Hermann Hreidarsson, with Hunt's cross being turned behind for a corner by Sol Campbell.

The noise level at the Madjeski Stadium has some what risen a lot from the first half and the crowd are thoroughly getting behind Reading.

Reading have made a very positive start to the second half with Kalifa Cisse missing but trying an ambitious shot from twenty five yards out, he cut accross the ball and his shot was always curling wide.

Nicky Shorey played a poor ball to his left with neither James Harper or Stephen Hunt being able to read his mind and Glen Johnson regained possession for Portsmouth.

The home crowd make some ironic cheers for Referee Mike Dean as he eventually awards a decision in their favour. The free kick though taken by Nicky Shorey was well defended by Portsmouth.

Steve Coppell has decided against making any further changes to his side as they look to get something from the game.

Reading get us back underway for the start of the second half.

Mike Dean blows the half time whistle and brings an action packed first half to an end.

Benjani crashes the ball off the crossbar for Portsmouth after good work by Glenn Johnson down the right.

The fourth official indicates two minutes of added time.

You can't fault the Reading players for effort, they have gave 110% to try and get back in the game but things just don't look like they are going to go their way today.

Portsmouth have peppered the Reading goal in the first half and it was Sulley Muntari once again who swung his dangerous left boot at the ball, with his shot once again saved by Marcus Hahnemann.

David James makes a tremendous subtle save with the inside of his left leg to deny Kevin Doyle after the Irishman broke clear of the Portsmouth defence.

Yet another fantastic opportunity for Pompey to double their lead. Papa Boupa Diop ran unmarked into the penalty area but couldn't quite get his head over the ball and nodded the ball wide of the goal.

Kevin Doyle is penalised by Referee Mike Dean for what seemed like a perfectly legitimate fair tackle on Hermann Hreidarsson.

Sulley Muntari found a couple of yards to move the ball onto his left foot and strike a shot which swerved in the air and landed in the safe hands of Hahnemann. The American 'Keeper has been solid since his early mistake.

John Utaka tries an audacious right footed volley from just inside the penalty area which whizzed over the cross bar, fortunately for Reading who are hanging on to a one goal deficit.

Graeme Murty is very lucky to still be on the pitch as he tangled with Sylvain Distin and brought the Frenchman to the ground illegally.

Portsmouth again fail to capitalise on a good opportunity, this time it was Papa Boupa Diop who arrived inside the area and headed the ball straight into the hands of Marcus Hahnemann.

Mike Dean awards a foul throw against Glen Johnson. Something a modern day footballer should be more than capable of not doing.

Steve Coppell is unhappy at Stephen Hunt's poor delivery from a free kick won on the right touchline, the Reading boss is going mad.

From the resulting free kick Niko Krancjar managed to swing a cross into the area with Sylvain Distin there to direct a header over the cross bar. A good chance for Portsmouth missed.

Graeme Murty recieves a booking for bringing down John Utaka as Portsmouth hit Reading on the counter attack.

Reading won a free kick in a fantastic position to load the penalty area but despite Nicky Shorey's good delivery the home side couldn't make anything of it.

Niko Krancjar is seeing a lot of the ball and did well to cut inside from the left and drive a right footed shot from twenty five yards which was again well saved by Hahnemann.

A tale of empty penalty areas in the last couple of minutes as Dave Kitson and Glenn Johnson did brilliantly to play dangerous ball into the penalty area, but there was no one in the box to get the end of them for their respective teams.

A good save that will do wonders for Marcus Hahnemann's confidence as he got down well to his right do save Niko Krancjar's right footed shot.

Kevin Doyle is now playing in a wide position for Reading and the striker come winger did well to get the better of Glen Johnson to whip a ball into the penalty area but Sylvain Distin was there to clear for Pompey.

Sol Campbell demonstrates his strength as he ushered Stephen Hunt off the ball as Dave Kitson looked to play the Irishman down the right hand side.

Reading have give themselves a mountain to climb and they are in for a very difficult afternoon following their disastrous start.

GOAL! READING 0 - 1 PORTSMOUTH (S.CAMPBELL) Marcus Hahnemann dropped the ball from a Portsmouth free kick and the away side managed to bundle the ball into the back of the net, with Sol Campbell getting the last touch on the ball to put them ahead.

Steve Coppell is forced to reshuffle his pack and unfortunately for Bobby Convey he is replaced by Andre Bikey who goes into the centre of defence.

A dramatic start to the game as Niko Krancjar smashes his penalty off the foot of the post and the ball is cleared from danger.

Ibrahima Sonko is shown a straight red card for denying Benjani a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Ibrahima Sonko brings down Benjani inside the penalty area to give Portsmouth the opportunity to make a fantastic start.

A bright start early doors for Reading as Nicky Shorey played a ball into the channel for Kevin Doyle to cross for the arriving Dave Kitson inside the penalty area, but David James came and confidently gathered the ball.

Portsmouth playing in all black get the game underway at the Madjeski Stadium.

Both teams come out and stand to a minutes applause for Motherwell's Phil O'Donnell who sadly past away during a game on Saturday.

The referee today is Mike Dean (Wirral).

Harry Redknapp makes two changes to the side that lost to Middlesborough on Saturday, Sulley Muntari comes back to the starting line-up and Glen Johnson also returns after missing the games against Arsenal and Middlesborough through injury.

Steve Coppell names an unchanged side this afternoon with no fresh new injury worries and will be pleased that Nicky Shorey is able to play despite suffering from a stomach bug over the last few days.

Portsmouth Line-up: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Diop, Hughes, Muntari, Kranjcar, Mwaruwari

Reading Line-up: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Cisse, Convey, Doyle, Kitson