Reading slumped to their eight defeat in a row as Aston Villa emerged comfortable winners in their 2-1 victory at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

Villa were in control of the proceedings throughout the match and should have had taken the lead when they were given a penalty in the 33rd minute but Gareth Barry smashed his chance over the bar. However the visitors took the lead in the 45th minute through Ashley Young and Marlon Harewood put the result beyond doubt by doubling the lead in the 83rd minute. Reading grabbed a consolation goal through Nicky Shorey in the final minute of the tie.

Reading were struggling at the back right from the start and Villa took full advantage of the situation, managing to create decent chances throughout the first half. John Carew, Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor were posing some serious questions for the Reading defense but the hosts managed to keep the ball out of the net thanks to some desperate defending and a couple of good saves by Marcus Hahnemann.

Aston Villa were given a great chance to take the lead in the 33rd minute when they were awarded a harsh penalty for a handball by Kalifa Cisse. Barry stepped up to take the spot kick but his usually clinical touch deserted him as he sliced the ball high over the bar.

However Villa's pressure finally told on the stroke of half time when Agbonlahor found Young with a precise cross from the right wing and the 22 year old made no mistake from close range. Reading tried to step up the pressure in the second half but bar a decent effort by Shorey, were unable to break down a organized Villa defense.

Villa doubled the lead in the 83rd minute when substitute Harewood, who replaced Shaun Maloney, took control of the ball near the edge of the area and curled it beyond Hahnemann's reach and into the top corner. Shorey bagged a consolation goal for Reading when his free kick squeaked past Carson but it was too little too late as Reading continued to languish in the relegation zone.