Ten-man Rangers slumped to their sixth consecutive away defeat despite an energetic and enterprising display at Reading.

Nicky Shorey's 64th minute free kick separated the sides despite an excellent second half display from the visitors.

Ian Holloway's misery was then compounded by Jamie Cureton's red card for violent conduct after lashing out at Reading skipper Steve Sidwell.

After an evenly-matched first half Rangers flew out of the traps in the second half and were dominating when the home side scored. They looked more than capable of finding their way back in to the game but the red card all but put paid to the Rs' chances.

The first chance of the game, in the second minute, gave Rangers an early indication of Reading's strengths, with big Dave Kitson nodding a long ball in to the path of Dean Morgan whose first time strike was comfortably saved by Chris Day.

Reading enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, giving the visitors' defence plenty to think about early on.

But fouls in quick succession outside the box, on Marc Bircham and Paul Furlong gave Rangers two opportunities for strikes on goal. The first from Furlong was blocked and the second from Martin Rowlands flew over the bar.

Within two minutes The Royals had a similar opportunity after Georges' Santos' foul on Kitson. But once again it was spurned with Nicky Shorey's curler drifting over Chris Day's bar.

Rangers' next sight of goal, with 12 minutes gone, saw Jamie Cureton's header go wide from Adam Miller's free kick with the referee's whistle dominating what was now becoming an evenly contested game.

Neither side were creating much by way of clearcut chances in open play but there was no lack of endeavour and energy as the half progressed.

Indeed, the home side appeared to be getting a little desperate when Kitson's obvious dive inside the Rangers penalty area earned him the first caution of the game in the 23rd minute.

The crowd had become somewhat muted but came alive once again when they mistook an excellent tackle by Ginoa Padula for a foul inside the box.

The referee waved play on and Rangers quickly broke down the left. Former Royal Jamie Cureton crossed for Furlong whose diving header was too close to Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal.

The Reading faithful were on their feet again with 13 minutes of the half remaining, claiming handball when Glen Little's header struck Marc Bircham in the area, but once again Mr Beeby ruled against the home side.

As the half headed towards its conclusion the home side were showing nothing to indicate that Rangers could not get something from the game and although real goalscoring opportunities remained thin on the ground, Ian Holloway will have been encouraged by his side's competitiveness up to this point.

The second half started and within seconds Rangers enjoyed their most purposeful spell of the game so far. First, Martin Rowlands burst down the left and despite the attention of two defenders whipped in a cross to the far post that Miller headed wide.

Then, Jamie Cureton tried his luck from 20 yards out and saw his effort go just the wrong side of Hahnemann's upright.

Two minutes later, a delightful ball from Miller picked out Cureton on the right and the striker cut in before unleashing a sharp drive from a tight angle that Hahnemann pushed behind.

Rangers were taking the game to the home side and the belief grew that Steve Coppell's team, who had not impressed thus far, could be there for the taking.

With 10 minutes of the half gone, the injured Kitson was replaced by Lloyd Owusu but Rangers continued to look the more assured side with the returning Rowlands to the fore. Conversely, Reading looked nervous as the green and white hoops saw more of the ball.

So when the Royals took a 64th minute lead, Rangers had every reason to feel hard done by. The better side went behind when a curling, looping free kick from Nicky Shorey hit Chris Day's right hand post and nestled in the back of the net. Rough justice indeed.

Five minutes later Martin Rowlands was booked for a high challenge on Little as Rangers searched for a way back in to the game.

But their chances were dealt a hammer blow in the 70th minute when Jamie Cureton lashed out at Steve Sidwell and was shown a red card that he, and Rangers, could clearly have little complaints about.

Cureton was furious with Sidwell for something. The suggestion was that he made a call from behind the Rangers player to 'leave it' when the ball was played to him. Either way, Cureton reacted badly and was given his marching orders.

Ian Holloway reshuffled his pack bringing on Leon Best for his Rangers debut in place of Gino Padula and reverting to a 3-4-2 formation.

Rangers continued to press and Paul Furlong went close with a header from Miller's cross.

With six minutes to go, Holloway made a double substition, swapping his wide men Rowlands and Miller for Lee Cook and Gareth Ainsworth and the visitors soon won a corner as they sought to grab a deserved point.

But it wasn't to be and a sixth consecutive away defeat was confirmed by the Reading cheers as the final whistle blew.

Reading: Hahnemann, Shorey, Sidwell, Sonko, Little, Hughes, Kitson (Owusu), Harper, Ingimarsson, Brooker, Morgan (Forster)
unused subs: Convey, Newman, Young

Scorers: Shorey 64

bookings: Kitson, Harper

Rangers: Day, Bignot, Padula (Best), Santos, Shittu, Rowlands (Ainsworth), Bircham, Gallen, Miller (Cook), Furlong, Cureton
unused subs: Edghill, Bean

Scorers: -

bookings: Rowlands, Bircham

red card: Cureton

Attendance: 20,072

Referee: RJ Beeby