The final whistle goes and Villa take all 3 points, however, despite the scoreline, Reading did play well and do have some positives to take home.

James Harper scores! A consolation for Reading as the away team brean, good work by Long and Lita provides Harper with a simple finish.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew and Ashley Young are replaced by Marlon Harewood, Moustapha Salifou and Shaun Maloney.

Shane Long replaces Kevin Doyle.

John Carew scores! Villa break very quickly, and in the end, Carew is left unmarked in the box to finish comfortably and seal the game for the home side.

Not long to go now, and it seems that Villa have this game in the bag, Reading though will be disapointed that both goals came from set pieces.

Carew puts the ball into the back of the net, however the flag had already been raised against Agbonlahor.

Carew hits a great shot on goal, and Marcus Hahnemann tips it over the bar, and that was a wonderful save from the Amercian.

Laursen has a great header on goal, however, the effort just goes over the bar, and Laursen has really shown some form today.

Dave Kitson is replaced by Leroy Lita.

Barry, starting for the 300th time for Villa, fires a shot right across the face of the goal, and Barry comes close twice in two minutes.

Barry gets a flick on at the near post from a Villa corner, but the ball goes onto the roof of the net, unlucky for Barry there.

Bobby Convey replaces Ulises De la Cruz.

However with only 20 minutes to go and two goals down, you feel Reading really needed to score in that great phase of chances they had in the last ten minutes.

Reading haven't given up just yet, and are showing an array of attacking potential.

Carson makes a fantastic one-handed save from a Brynjar Gunnarsson effort, and that was going in before Carson intercepted.

Villa break very quickly and look odds on to score, however, De La Cruz defends very well and is able to clear the ball.

The ball bounces all around the box after Carson lets the ball slip, Brynjar Gunnarsson has the best attempt on goal but all to no avail.

Laursen once again heads towards goal from a corner, however this time, Marcus Hahnemann makes a great save.

Has this goal ended Reading's hopes of winning this game? If Villa continue to play in the manner they are now then it quite possibly is.

Martin Laursen scores! Vill put in a corner, and the Villa player rises above the Reading defence once again and leaves Hahnemann with no chance.

A very bright start from Villa this second half, and it could have been a lot better for the Villa if Reading were to have their keeper sent off, but Uriah Rennie made the right decision.

Gabriel Agbonlahor was running through on goal when Hahnemann came out and fouled the Villa striker, the resulting free-kick however resulted in nothing.

Marcus Hahnemann seems to catch Agbonlahor just outside the box and receives a caution.

The second half begins and Villa will be looking to keep the edge over Reading, however, the Royals are still very much in this game.

The ref blows his whistle and Villa have just edged out Reading in an entertaining half of football and go into the break a goal up through John Carew.

There will be two minutes of stoppage time to be added.

Marcus Hahnemann slips as he went to play the ball, but he is able to clear it before Agbonlahor can close in.

Kitson drives the ball towards goal from range, but unfortunately the effort is wide and Villa have the goal-kick.

Shorey loses possession and the ball goes out of play, and as the final ten of the half approaches, Reading are no way out of this game.

Agbonlahor is certainly looking dangerous today as his pace is seriously testing Cruz at the back.

Kitson, making his 100th league start for Reading today, is limping off the pitch and it looks like this could be serious,

Petrov strikes a great effort on goal, it takes a deflection of Cruz, however a goal-kick is awarded, and Martin O'Neill is furious.

The game was relatively equal up untill that goal, and Doyle especially will be regretting his miss only minutes before that Villa goal

Ulises De la Cruz is booked for a foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor.

John Carew scores! Ashley Young put in a good ball from a Villa free-kick, and Carew rose above the Reading defence to head Villa into the lead.

Gabriel Agbonlahor has a good shout for a penalty, but it isn't awarded, Reading go down the other end and Doyle misses a sitter as he blazes over the bar.

Reading hit Villa with a fast-paced counter attack, however Hunt is unable to produce a quality ball into the danger area when it mattered.

Villa produce a great move, and Agbonlahor puts in a great ball into the box, only for it to be just ahead of Barry as Marcus Hahnemann collects.

Carson nearly makes a mess of a Reading free-kick, Shorey played the ball into the box and Carson almost spills it, but manages to re-gather.

The game has become a brighter affair in the last 5 minutes or so as both Reading and Villa play a better variety of football.

Marcus Hahnemann makes a great save from a Petrov effort, and the keeper pushed it round the post for a Villa corner.

Villa lose the advantage as a quick free-kick is pulled back by the referee, much to the anger of the home crowd.

A relatively slow start to this game as both sides play a cautious passing style of football.

Reading have the first corner of the game, Shorey puts it in, but the ball goes over everyone's head and is out for a goal-kick.

Despite being named in the starting line-up, Mellberg pulls out due to a virus and is replaced by Craig Gardner.

Aston Villa are currently on a great run of form and will be confident of victory over a Reading side that seem to be leaking goals in at the back as Uriah Rennie gets the game underway.

Gunnarsson returns from a ban and starts, however, Duberry fails a late fitness test as Reading play with: Hahnemann, Murty, Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson, Shorey, De la Cruz, Harper, Cisse, Hunt, Kitson, Doyle

O'Neill has no injury worries as Carew shows no ill effects after returning last week as Villa start with: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Davies, Bouma, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew, Agbonlahor