Source: PA
Boro bag the points
Barry Robson's early goal set Middlesbrough on their way to a second home win in five days as they defeated Reading 3-1 in an entertaining clash at the Riverside Stadium.
Robson opened the scoring after just 22 seconds and both sides struck the woodwork before former Royals striker Leroy Lita added a second for the Teessiders in the 41st minute.
Jimmy Kebe's superb solo effort dragged Reading back into the game prior to the interval, but David Wheater restored the hosts' two-goal advantage with a header from Robson's 68th-minute corner.
Reading's misery was compounded late on as Brian Howard received a straight red card for a foul on Middlesbrough substitute Andy Halliday.
The result lifts Boro above the Royals in the npower Championship table and manager Gordon Strachan will take great heart from a much-improved showing in which his side finally displayed their promotion credentials.
