Reading 0-1 QPR: Toni Leistner strikes to seal three points

QPR halted their Championship slide at the Madejski Stadium, but Steve McClaren’s men made heavy work of beating a sloppy Reading side.

Captain Toni Leistner returned from injury to fire home the only goal after a scramble inside the area in the 64th minute to lift the pressure on his manager after back-to-back defeats. On an evening that was framed by wasted opportunities however, it is clear there is a lot still to do for both bosses.

Nahki Wells and Jordan Cousins were both guilty of glaring misses for the visitors, and their boss admits they are far from the finished article after lifting themselves to 17th in the Championship. 

Leistner (far right) shot the ball into the Reading net after it fell to his feet in the penalty box

The ball hits the back of the net as QPR take the lead over Championship strugglers Reading

‘This team at this moment, I don’t think, is anywhere near its potential,’ he said. ‘But potential is nothing and we have to demonstrate that.

‘At the present moment we have to be resilient and we have to be hard to beat and we’ve got to keep creating.’

This fixture used to be played out in front of a sea of blue and white hoops, but hat was replaced in the stands by swathes of blue seats before kick off.

Some will point to the option supporters now have to stream games from home during weeknights, but in truth you need only look at the decline of both clubs to understand why fans are staying clear.

A return to the halcyon days of Premier League football could not be further away for the two sides who arrived here sat 19th and 20th in the Championship table.

It is a fall from grace that mirrors that of their respective managers.

For both Steve McClaren and Paul Clement, managerial careers that started with the promise of success have come to be defined by their failures. It was never supposed to be like this for the two apprentices heavily endorsed by two of the games’ masters. 

The former’s tutelage under Sir Alex Ferguson showed early signs of promise at Middlesbrough, but in truth he has never recovered from the damage inflicted from his disastrous spell in charge of the national side. 

Massimo Luongo of QPR and Chris Gunter of Reading compete for the ball during the first half

Jordan Cousins of QPR heads an effort on the Reading goal over the bar during the first half

The former has come under fire too since leaving the comfort of Carlo Ancelotti’s backroom team, but the wounds inflicted by underwhelming spells with Derby and Swansea could yet heal.

While both have a point to prove, you sense that Clement has the better opportunity to get it across.

To be fair to McClaren there was little more he could do here. His side played the better football, appearing much more cohesive and a lot easier on the eye. There was just one sticking point.

One of QPR’s biggest problems this season is their inability to threaten the opposition goal – seven goals in their opening 10 league games tells its own story.

It’s fair to say then that Steve McClaren’s side can ill afford to miss the big chances that come their way. Cousins and Wells only served to raise suspicions that, yet again, this wasn’t to be their night.

Cousins headed over when well placed to test Sam Walker from Jake Bidwell’s cross from the left.

Wells threaded through-ball to set Eberechi Eze scampering away was impressive, as was his speed to catch up. Less so was his finish from the return ball, a tame effort at a comfortable height for Walker to palm away.

Reading attempted a different approach to creating openings after the break. Yakou Meite, who started in place of Jon Dadi Bodvarsson after the Icelandic striker pulled up in the warm-up, was shown a yellow for going down to easily in the box under the challenge of Leistner. Saeid Ezatolahi received the same treatment from referee Andy Davies when going down 15 minutes later. 

A third challenge then went unpunished, must to the disbelief of the home crowd, and Clement.

When asked if he felt his side should have had a spot kick after the game, he replied: ‘I thought third one was.

QPR manager Steve McClaren shouts in frustration as his side struggle against Reading

Nahki Wells of QPR clears the ball from his penalty box as opponents watch on behind

‘I thought he made a lot of mistakes. It will be reflected in our report we have to put in.’

Even still, it was difficult for him to get away from the reality of his side’s display.

‘I’m not happy with the performance,’ he said after his side failed to build on Saturday’s draw at Brentford..

‘We’ve got to make the next step with this team and find consistency.’

While Reading went to ground, QPR’s more honest endeavours continued to create the better openings. Cousins channelled the frustrations of an entire team when theatrically throwing himself to ground after seeing his half-volley tipped round the near post by Walker.

The weight on those QPR shoulders soon lifted though, as from the resulting corner a scramble in the Reading area saw Leistner eventually bundle home on his return to action from a groin strain.

Clement’s men, listless for so long, finally lurched into life at the shock of going behind to a side who has won just one away from home all season.

At last they found their elusive opening with just 15 minutes to go, but Meite’s low effort crashed against the base of the post and rolled wide, any hope of a late reprieve following with it.

An overview of the Madejski Stadium in Reading as the game continues on Tuesday night