Reading’s season went from bad to worse last night as they fell to a 3-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Brian McDermott and his players cut dejected figures at the final whistle as their survival hopes look to be in tatters, even at this stage of the season.

The result lifted Sunderland out of the relegation zone, with the Mackams breaking clear from Royals in the battle against the drop.

McDermott said on Saturday ‘doom and gloom’ lay ahead for his side – and he was not wrong.

Royals remain 19th in the Premier League table, six points from safety.

It was their fifth consecutive defeat. And with games against Arsenal and Manchester City to come, it is set to be a long hard winter for Royals.

McDermott made three changes to his side after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Southampton.

Garath McCleary, Alex Pearce and Noel Hunt were all recalled to the starting line-up, with Hal Robson-Kanu, Sean Morrison and Jason Roberts making way.

Reading got off to a catastrophic start when James McClean fired home after just two minutes.

Adam Federici could only punch Adam Johnson’s corner into the path of the midfielder, who stroked the ball home inside the near post.

For the next ten minutes Royals were under the cosh as the home side looked dangerous every time they broke forward. Seb Larsson found a gaping hole in Royals’ back line and struck his shot well, but Federici was equal to it.

Alex Pearce then had Royals’ best chance of the half when he met Nicky Shorey’s free-kick from the right, but shot agonisingly wide of the post. Frenchman Stephane Sessegnon then carved out some room on the edge of Royals’ penalty area, but shot wide.

To their credit, Brian McDermott’s side did not wilt under the constant barrage of pressure and continued to press forward, but they lacked a final ball. The tireless Jobi McAnuff worked some good positions down the right, but failed to create the required goalscoring opportunity.

And they were left to rue these misses when Steven Fletcher doubled the home side’s advantage when he delicately back-heeled the excellent Danny Rose’s cross into the bottom corner.

Adrian Mariappa was the guilty defender; having not got tight enough to the £15m Scottish striker.

Reading created several opportunities before the half ended, which saw Jay Tabb fire over from 20 yards. It demanded a strong team-talk by Brian McDermott at half-time, and Royals nearly clawed their way back into the match through left-back Nicky Shorey.

The defender hit a glorious free-kick which was heading for the top right corner, but the flying Belgian Simon Mignolet was on hand to turn it away for a corner.

The break which Royals needed still deserted them and McDermott looked on, frustrated and dejected.

As the game opened up, both sides had chances to get on the scoresheet.

McAnuff put a low cross in, but no-one was in the middle to stab home.

Noel Hunt went close with a near post header, but it was well saved by Mignolet.

With little experience on the bench to call upon, McDermott threw on teenager Dominic Samuel for a first-team debut as Royals looked for a spark.

But a dismal evening on Wearside was confirmed when Sessegnon then wrapped things up for the hosts when he broke clear and rounded Federici to roll the ball into an empty net.

Royals have a history of beginning seasons slowly and then going on to achieve great things.

But it will take a monumental effort this time around if McDermott’s side are going to be playing in the Premier League this time next year.

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