In a scrappy match, which resembled last seasons tie at Elm Park, Alan Ball made a instrumental tactical change which won him the game. Striker Mathias Svensson came on for McLoughlin and from the free kick the Swede won Pompey's captain Adrian Whitbread scored his first goal for the club to send the massed ranks behind the goal mad.
New signing Matt Robinson from Southampton went straight into the left back berth with Aaron Cook making way. Other than that it was an unchanged side from that which beat Stockport in midweek, although Andy Thomson returned from suspension to claim a place on the bench. Reading started their new signing Andy Legg from Birmingham and Pompey had to watch out for his massive long throws.
In-fact it was Legg who created the first danger for Pompey. His throw from the left looped into the box where Awford was forced to head behind with Asaba closing him down. Pompey got that away but moments later another Legg throw had to be knocked behind this time by Whitbread.
Pompey in the early stages were under intense pressure with Aloisi and Claridge, playing his last game of a loan spell, unable to break down Reading's defence. The first shot for the home side came in the third minute when from Houghton's corner Booty volleyed wide. A minute later Booty received a Houghton pass in space 20-yards out and again he fired wide.
Reading were most menacing down the wings, more so down the right where Robinson was struggling to keep a hold of Williams. After some more good defending Pompey created their best chance in the 14th minute. Claridge managed to lose his tight marker Primus to latch onto Pethick's through ball but Davies came across to nudge the ball behind for a corner. Pethick got a cross in from it which ended with Vlachos shooting over.
The Pompey fans behind the Flahavan's goal then saw Reading nearly go in front when from another Houghton corner Primus directed a header inches wide. On 23 minutes the dangerous Morley picked up a Houghton pass, turned his man, but dragged the shot wide of Flahavan. It was very disappointing stuff with Pompey struggling to create anything and Reading lacking the ability to make more of their possession.
Flahavan got down to save an Asaba shot minutes later, before the striker won a corner which resulted in Morley heading well wide. Asaba's strength and pace was always going to threaten Pompey but Awford and Whitbread were doing a superb job of keeping him quiet. Awford had to make an excellent tackle when Asaba tried to race onto Morley's flick.
Carter then wasted a good opportunity for Pompey when he got away down the right and with Aloisi and Claridge calling for a pull back he scuffed the cross which was easily hooked away. Claridge came the closest to scoring for Pompey in the 42nd minute when he turned his marker and got in shot which went just over. Just before half-time Morley was booked for sliding in on Flahavan when the keeper had both hands on the ball after he had gathered a Houghton shot.
Pompey started much better in the second half and won a corner early on through Aloisi's menace, however that came to nothing. The fans behind the Reading goal which had been fairly subdued in the first half then started to sing and make the match seem like a home game for Pompey.
Whitbread and Awford were both having outstanding games although the captain rescued his team mate when he let Bowen in by blocking the midfielder's shot. Reading caused further panic shortly afterwards when a free-kick bounced around in the area before Primus's shot was deflected away for a corner.
In the 60th minute Ball made a double change by bringing on Thomson and Allen for Carter and Igoe. The formation switched from a flack back four to a wing back system. Reading were now only getting in long range shots which on each occasion flew over Flahavan's cross bar.
Claridge was then released in the area from Aloisi's flick on and the striker's attempted curler deflected off a defender for a corner. From that Pompey had a great chance to take the lead. The cross wasn't claimed by Hammond who spilled it but the clearance went only as far as Allen who chipped it back into the area where Aloisi headed inches over with his back to goal.
Svensson then came on for McLoughlin with Ball going with three main strikers in an attempt to grab a win. Lovell though had Flahavan worried with another long range effort with went just over before Pompey snatched a winner with seven minutes remaining.
Svensson who was putting himself about won a free-kick 30-yards out. Allen took over the responsibility although he totally mis-kicked his shot. However, it beat the Reading wall and found Claridge in the area and his pass was turned in by Whitbread to send the fans behind the goal delirious.
Reading couldn't respond and Pompey may well have gone on to get a second when Aloisi's cross from the right was flicked right across his own goal by Legg. At the end the Pompey players and management team applauded the travelling army and the joy of another win was there to see.