FT: Man City 2-1 Reading: City maintain their 100% home record thanks to Ireland's injury time wonder strike which was very cruel on a Reading side who were good value for a point.

Man City 2-1 Reading (IRELAND): What a goal from IRELAND! He unleashes a superb strike into the back of the net from outside the box to win the game for City.

Geovanni, this is the chance for City surely, but no he has blazed it over the bar from 8 yards out and wasted the chance.

Geovanni slips at the decisive moment in his own half and Graeme Murty is able to run in behind and everntually he manages to win a corner.

And Long's first action is to viciously scythe down Sun Jihai and he is awarded a yellow card.

Shane Long is replacing Kevin Doyle who has run his socks off for the Royals today.

Reading are now enjoying the bulk of the possession and are keeping it very well but they don't have the creative spark to cause the Man City defence too many problems.

Still no real goalmouth action to speak of as both side struggle to break through the back fours.

City are enjoying the better of the possession but they cannot breach the Royals defence, in fact both sides look more dangerous on the break than anywhere else.

Petrov has been City's dangerman today as he cuts in a delivers a superb through ball into Samaras' run and only brave goalkeeping from Hahnemann stops him putting City ahead.

Either side could go on to win this game in the final 20 minutes as both have had chances but in all fairness, a draw is looking most likely.

Geovanni drops a shoulder to manoevre the ball onto his favoured right foot and lets fly from 25 yards and it is only a fraction wide of the post.

Just like the first period the half has started brightly but both sides are now playing slowly once more, which is not uncommon with games after the international break.

Elano - who looks absolutely knackered - is coming off now to be replaced by Geovanni in attack.

Another lull in proceedings as both sides are happy to pass the ball around between the midfield and defence.

Javier Garrido advances down the left and he puts in a superb cross into the centre of the area and Samaras is a fraction away from getting his head on it.

A little more lively at the start of the second half and that is arguably down to Reading coming out to attack the City backline which is stretching the play.

Stephen Hunt dives in wrecklessly on Gelson Fernandes and is very lucky to get away with a yellow card because that was a horrendous challenge.

Nice interplay between Kitson and Doyle in the final third and the Irishman tries to feed his strike partner with a delicate low cross but Kitson can't quite reach to prod home.

The second half is underway and lets hope for a little more action this time.

Emile Mpenza is making way at the break for Georgios Samaras in the City attack.

HT:Man City 1-1 Reading: What was actually a very dull first half has ended level after Reading fought back as City relaxed too much as half time approached.

Man City 1-1 Reading (HARPER): James HARPER places one into the top corner to draw the Royals level and City have paid the price for relaxing too much.

Vedran Corluka has been feeling his hamstring for a few minutes now and he is going to have to exit the play with Sun Jihai coming on in his place at right back.

Wonderful play by City again with Elano - as usual - at the heart of it but Mpenza strays a fraction offside and Reading are let off the hook.

There are a number of players falling to the floor with minor knocks including Corluka, Hamann and most recently Harper.

Sadly there is still no action to speak of, only a small knock for Elano who is trying to run it off, and the crowd has fallen deafly silent.

Convey is the only Reading player that looks like causing the City defence any problems but another twisting run ends in a backward pass as the American is given no options centrally.

The game has gone very flat with no goalmouth action at either end to speak of, someone needs to do something soon to liven this one up.

Reading began well but they have shown nothing since Petrov struck and at the moment City are bossing it in all areas.

Emile Mpenza typifies City's effort as he breaks away down the right wing before whipping a low ball in for Ireland to try and get on the end of, but Reading clear.

That goal has really relaxed the City players and they look much more comfortable on the ball now as the try to plot their next assault on the Reading goal.

Man City 1-0 Reading (PETROV): After an almighty goalmouth scramble, PETROV lashes the ball past a stricken Hahnemann to give the home side the lead.

The game has settled slightly as City try to get Elano and Hamann on the ball but they are second best so far with Reading piling on the pressure in the midfield.

Kevin Doyle is Reading's dangerman and he outsprints Dunne but the big defender gets back to bundle it behind for a corner but that was close to being a great chance.

Convey is involved a fair bit early on here as he attempts a half volley from 25 yards that he miscues slightly and it screws wide.

Murty now has the ball on the right wing and delivers a superb cross and Bobby Convey arrives to force a save from Isaksson.

Stephen Ireland picks up the ball and is allowed to move forward, but, as he looks for Martin Petrov coming in around the back, Graeme Murty concedes a corner.

Steve Tanner blows his whistle to get the game underway in front of an expectant crowd at Eastlands, it will be interesting to see if Reading can handle Elano today.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey, Doyle, Kitson

Man City: Isaksson, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Gelson, Hamann, Ireland, Petrov, Elano, Mpenza

Steve Coppell's side have been suffering the famous second season syndrome so far this campaign but their form has lifted thanks to the goals of Kevin Doyle lately and he will be looking to hit the back of the net again this afternoon.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's stock has risen with England's demise and he has worked wonders with City this season, today he gives Andreas Isaksson his first start of the season in goal.

Steve Tanner is the official for today's match at the City of Manchester Stadium as Manchester City take on Reading.