Bradford 2, Reading 1

READING'S play-off aspirations were dented by defeat at relegation-threatened Bradford on Saturday.

The Royals could have gone fourth with victory at Valley Parade so the result was a bitter pill to swallow for manager Steve Coppell.

He declined to speak to the media after the controversial dismissal of Ivar Ingimarsson in the second half following an off-the-ball incident with Dean Windass.

However, on the club's official website he said: "I spoke to their player after the game and he said, 'I conned the referee'."

"He made physical contact with Ivar. Ivar told me there was a head butt and a punch, then Ivar pushed him and what the linesman saw was the only the last part.

"He interpreted it as violent conduct. If someone butts you, you've got the right to push him away."

The Royals went into the game on a high after two wins. They welcomed back skipper Adie Williams while Ricky Newman pushed into midfield to replace the suspended Steven Sidwell.

Reading went behind after just 12 minutes when Nicky Summerbee flighted a right-wing corner to the near post and, after a flick-on, David Wetherall headed home powerfully from eight yards.

Bradford turned the screw, but Reading fought back to equalise with a superb goal of their own after 25 minutes.

Dean Morgan advanced down the left before laying the ball back to John Salako. As he swept in a cross, Dave Kitson twisted his frame in to a stunning scissors kick with his favoured left peg and the ball rocketed past the helpless 'keeper from 12 yards.

After 52 minutes, the hosts went ahead again when Paul Brooker's sloppy pass allowed Peter Atherton to feed Michael Branch on the right of the box. The former Royals loan-man clipped a ball to the far post, where Lewis Emanuel guided home from just a few yards.

Branch was dismissed soon afterwards for a second yellow card. He fell under a challenge in the penalty area and was harshly deemed to have dived.

Any hopes the Royals had of making the extra man count were dashed several minutes later with the dismissal of Ingimarsson in an unsavoury incident with Windass.

Salako, Brooker and Morgan were all unable to beat the Bradford 'keeper as Royals pressed the hosts back and the long-awaited return of star striker Nicky Forster boosted hopes of an equaliser.

After Windass had struck the crossbar, the Royals went close with a Dean Gordon free-kick, while an effort from the lively Forster was cleared from the line and a badly-sliced effort from Shaun Goater went wide after a set-up by Forster.

Jamie Ashdown made a save from Summerbee at the end and the Royals' dejected players trooped off in frustration at the way their afternoon had turned out.

Reading (4-4-2): Ashdown; Murty, Williams, Ingimarsson, Hughes; Brooker (sub Goater 78min), Newman (sub Gordon 72min), Harper, Salako (sub Forster 72min); Morgan, Kitson. Subs not used: Young, Owusu.