The 2013–14 season was Reading Football Club's first season back in the Championship following the side's relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2012–13 season. It was also Nigel Adkins' only full season in charge of the club having succeeded Brian McDermott in March 2013.
The campaign began with a home win over Ipswich Town and after ten games the team had lost only once and were in the play-off places. Six defeats in 13 games between October and the new year saw Reading slip to 9th, though their form improved in January with three wins from five, including 7–1 and 5–1 victories over Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool respectively. Despite mixed form from February onwards, Reading remained in contention for the play-offs until the last game of the season. Needing only to equal Brighton & Hove Albion's result to finish in the top six, the team drew at home to already promoted Burnley whilst Brighton scored a last-minute winner at Nottingham Forest. Reading therefore finished seventh and were consigned to the Championship for another season. In the two domestic cup competitions, Reading were knocked out at the stage they entered. They were beaten 6–0 by Peterborough United in the second round of the League Cup, their heaviest defeat since 1999, whilst in the FA Cup third round they lost 1–0 to Brighton.
In his first season as a regular for the senior team Jordan Obita was named as the club's Player of the Season, beating Chris Gunter and Danny Williams into second and third respectively. With 15 goals, Adam Le Fondre was the team's top scorer for the third consecutive season. Somewhat overshadowing the season was the continuing uncertainty over the ownership of the club. The original deadline for the full takeover by Anton Zingarevich passed in September and by February, chairman Sir John Madejski confirmed that Zingarevich was no longer involved and that he was seeking new owners.
Season review Reading began planning for the 2013–14 Championship season on 28 April 2013, after a 0–0 draw at home to Queens Park Rangers condemned both sides to relegation from the Premier League.
Pre-season On 24 May, Reading announced that ten players would be leaving upon the expiry of their contracts. Those departing included Noel Hunt, Nicky Shorey, Ian Harte, Jay Tabb and Simon Church, as well as Joseph Mills, Brett Williams and three youngsters. Nicholas Bignall, who had been out injured since his loan deal with Wycombe Wanderers in 2011, was also released by the club having been named on the Premier League's released player list. Bignall however remained with the club on a non-contract basis whilst recovering from his injury.
Having been unable to agree a new contract over the course of the season, Alex Pearce eventually agreed a new two-year deal in June. Hal Robson-Kanu also agreed a new three-year contract, ending speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League. Goalkeepers Stuart Taylor and Jonathan Henly signed a new one and two-year contracts respectively, while four other out-of-contract players, including Lawson D'Ath also committed their futures to the club. Seven Academy graduates signed professional contracts and were given squad numbers for the first time, including Jake Cooper who was given a three-year deal. They were joined in the senior squad by Craig Tanner and Aaron Tshibola who signed professionally as youngsters in 2011.
In June Reading announced that they had agreed a partnership with Formula One team Marussia. The agreement sees Reading's logo displayed on Marussia's cars, and the Marussia logo on the reverse of Reading's shirts.
Transfers
Reading signed three players prior to the start of the season, with all three arriving in July. Wayne Bridge was the first to sign, joining on a one-year deal following the expiry of his contract at Manchester City. Dutch International Royston Drenthe penned a two-year contract, with the option of a third, moving from Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz whilst Danny Williams joined from Hoffenheim for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract. Former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Dean Wilkins also arrived as first-team coach.
Several players left the club on loan. In June Mikkel Andersen and Nick Arnold joined Danish Superliga side Randers and Wycombe Wanderers respectively on season-long deals. The following month Ryan Edwards moved on a season-long loan to Perth Glory with Daniel Carriço joining Sevilla on a similar deal with a view to a permanent transfer. Aberdeen signed Michael Hector for six months while Karl Sheppard's loan at Shamrock Rovers was extended until the end of the Irish season.
Friendlies Reading began pre-season on 13 July with a behind closed doors game against Wycombe Wanderers, winning 3–1. Adam Le Fondre, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Williams, on debut, scored the goals. Two days later a 27-man squad then travelled to Portugal to play two matches. They drew the first, against Belenenses, 1–1 thanks to a late Le Fondre goal and won the second, against Olhanense, 5–1. Upon their return Reading faced Bristol City and suffered their first defeat, losing 1–0 after conceding a late goal. A heavy 3–0 defeat by Swansea City followed, before a 2–1 loss to Bristol Rovers, a long range Garath McCleary strike Reading's only goal.
The under-21 squad, playing as a "Reading XI", started their pre-season on the same day as the senior team and won 1–0 away to Basingstoke Town through a Shepherd Murombedzi goal. Three days later they comfortably beat Dartford 4–0 thanks to goals from Gozie Ugwu, Aaron Tshibola and a double from Craig Tanner. Another goal from Ugwu, one from Tarique Fosu-Henry and an own goal helped the youngsters earn a 3–3 draw against newly promoted League Two side Newport County. They played further games away to Boreham Wood, which they drew 1–1 courtesy of a De'Juane Taylor-Crossdale penalty, and Fulham, which finished 3–3, before a 3–2 win over Bristol City with Jake Taylor among the scorers.
August Reading started their season on 3 August at home to Ipswich Town. They went behind when former player Jay Tabb scored in the 16th minute, but equalised shortly before half time through Adam Le Fondre. Danny Guthrie then struck with a 25-yard, deflected shot to secure the victory. A week later the team travelled to Bolton Wanderers and drew 1–1 with Nick Blackman scoring his first goal for the club. The team then returned to the Madejski Stadium for a home game against Watford which Reading lead 2–0 at half time after goals from Le Fondre and Jem Karacan. A second Karacan goal had made it 3–1 before the visitors hit back with a penalty and a 90th-minute equaliser with the game ending 3–3. Goalkeeper Daniel Lincoln moved to Metropolitan Police on a one-month loan midway through the month. Reading confirmed that Werder Bremen striker Joseph Akpala was trialling at the club though ultimately he was not offered a contract. Young Glenavon striker Robbie McDaid also spent a week training with the Academy.
Reading suffered their first defeat of the season away to Blackpool, losing 1–0 after a late Tom Barkhuizen strike. Another away match followed with the side travelling to League One side Peterborough United for the second round of the League Cup. Peterborough took an early lead through Britt Assombalonga and added another two before half time. Three more goals in the second half, including two Lee Tomlin penalties which completed his hat-trick, consigned Reading to a comprehensive 6–0 loss, their heaviest defeat for 14 years. Reading faced Yeovil Town in the last game of the month and won 1–0 in the first ever league meeting between the two sides thanks to a second half Le Fondre penalty. Following the game it was confirmed that Jimmy Kébé had joined Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee.
September
On transfer deadline day Adrian Mariappa was the only player to leave the club, following Kébé to Crystal Palace. The first game of the month was a friendly against Oman which Reading lost 2–0. They resumed competitive action on 15 September against Brighton & Hove Albion in a televised game that ended 0–0. The first half saw Pavel Pogrebnyak sent off for two bookings while Brighton's Leonardo Ulloa also departed after receiving a straight red card. Reading then faced Leeds United who were under the management of former boss Brian McDermott and, after losing Jem Karacan early on to a serious knee injury, Adam Le Fondre headed home in the 96th minute to steal a 1–0 win.
On 20 September, Reading signed Northern Ireland international defender Chris Baird on a free transfer following his release from Fulham. Matt Partridge joined Basingstoke Town on a one-month loan while Daniel Lincoln was on the move again, joining Harrow Borough on a similar deal. Baird went straight into the team for the game against Derby County at Pride Park which Reading won 3–1. The returning Pavel Pogrebnyak opened the scoring with his first goal for the club since January before doubling their lead with his second of the game. Will Hughes pulled on back for Derby but Nick Blackman's injury time strike secured the win for Reading. Billy Sharp joined on an emergency loan from Southampton late in the month. He was an unused substitute for the game against Birmingham City which Reading won 2–0 through two Danny Guthrie free kicks. Guthrie was later nominated for Championship Player of the Month but lost out to Ipswich Town striker David McGoldrick.
October Reading began the month with a trip to Barnsley and drew 1–1 with Hal Robson-Kanu scoring his first goal of the season. Another away trip followed to Burnley where the side lost 2–1, Reading's reply coming from a Jason Shackell own goal. Reading returned from the international break with a home game against Doncaster Rovers which they won 4–1 with goals from Danny Guthrie, Adam Le Fondre, Garath McCleary and Pavel Pogrebnyak. The following week the team faced Millwall at home and took the lead through a Sean Morrison header in the ninth minute. Jimmy Abdou was sent off midway through the second half before Liam Trotter equalised with a 92nd-minute penalty as the game finished 1–1. Prior to the game the club announced that Nick Harvey had joined the club as Head of Sports Science, replacing Karl Halabi. At the end of the month Jonathan Henly moved on loan to Aldershot Town until January.
November
The first game in November was an away trip to second from bottom Sheffield Wednesday which ended in a 5–2 defeat. Reading's goals came from Pavel Pogrebnyak and Adam Le Fondre with former player Michail Antonio among the scorers for Wednesday. The team then hosted Queens Park Rangers and took the lead through Garath McCleary though a late Joey Barton free kick leveled the scores as the game finished 1–1. During the international break two players left the club on loan with Gozie Ugwu moving to Shrewsbury Town until early January and Stuart Taylor joining Yeovil Town for a month. Just two days later Taylor's spell was cut short without him having made a competitive appearance due to "personal reasons". Following the international games Reading earned a point away to Blackburn Rovers after a goalless draw. The team then beat Nottingham Forest 3–2 to record their first away win since the victory at Derby in September. Pogrebnyak and Kaspars Gorkšs gave Reading an early 2–0 lead before two ex-Royals, Simon Cox and Darius Henderson drew Forest level. Jordan Obita won the game with his first goal for the club after 74 minutes while Chris Gunter, who was also playing against his former club, was sent off late on for two bookings. Lawson D'Ath joined Dagenham & Redbridge on an emergency loan until the end of December, whilst the local press suggested that Reading had failed in a similar bid for West Bromwich Albion's Graham Dorrans.
December