Barclays Premier League

FULL-TIME

After what was a somewhat subdued performance from the champions, they still manage to get all three points thanks to a late Gareth Barry goal. Reading will be heartbroken to go home empty handed afer a very impressive defensive display and they'll feel they could have won the game late on; they had some good chances but will now spend Christmas rooted to the foot of the table. Roberto Mancini will be happy to have kept the pressure on Manchester United with a win; they're now just three points behind their cross-city rivals.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

Gareth Barry becomes an unlikely hero by rising above Nicky Shorey to head home a David Silva cross from the left-wing. Surely that's all three points for the champions.

GOAL!

Gareth Barry wins all three points for City!

CHANCE FOR CITY

Manchester City mount one last attack through Yaya Toure but his pass is cut out by the hard-working Jay Tabb. The Reading player promptly loses the ball to Sergio Aguero though who is allowed a shot on goal. Fortunately for Tabb it's hit into the side netting.

ADDED TIME

There'll be four minutes of added time here at the Etihad.

PENALTY SHOUT

Pablo Zabaleta goes down under a challenge from Jimmy Kebe in the box and appeals for a penalty but Mike Dean gives a free-kick the other way for a lunge from Zabaleta.

READING SUBSTITUTION

Ian Harte is down injured and he's brought off to be replaced by Nicky Shorey.

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTION

James Milner comes on to replace debutant Karim Rekik.

READING BREAK

A fantastic tackle from Danny Guthrie in his own half allows Reading to go through two on two. Jimmy Kebe attempts to play in Pavel Pogrebnyak but his pass is just touched behind by Kolo Toure. Mikele Leigertwood's resulting corner is almost headed in by Alex Pearce but it goes just over.

READING POSSESSION

Reading have a throw-in deep in the City half and they're doing really well to keep hold of the ball. They'll have to be careful not to overcommit though, City would relish the chance of a break-away.

PENALTY SHOUT

There's a break in play while Jay Tabb is treated for an injury in the City penalty box after a shoulder to shoulder challenge from Karim Rekik. Pavel Pogrebnyak appeals for a penalty, but Mike Dean waves away the protests.

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTION

Scott Sinclair comes on for Carlos Tevez.

READING SUBSTITUTION

Jem Karacan is replaced by Danny Guthrie.

READING BREAK

Jobi McAnuff makes a storming run down the left and looked to be through on goal before Yaya Toure slides in from behind just outside the box. He's booked for the foul by Mike Dean.

LEIGERTWOOD BOOKING

Mikele Leigertwood is booked for a sliding challenge on Karim Rekik in the middle of the park.

OPEN GOAL

Pablo Zabaleta manages to chip the ball right across the face of goal from close range on the right-hand-side. Adam Federici had already rushed out to cover it and Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero had the goal at their mercy, neither could get their head to the ball though.

BRILLIANT PASS

Yaya Toure plays the pass of the game by picking out David Silva who is 50 yards away on the opposite flank. Silva accidentally knocks the ball out of play though and what would have been a golden opportunity is wasted. The crowd are becoming incredibly restless.

CITY SUBSTITUTION

The Manchester City fans are getting extremely anxious now and they're urging their team to get forward. Roberto Mancini appears to be listening, he's just sent Edin Dzeko on in place of Javi Garcia.

READING CORNER

Alex Pearce wastes a golden opportunity by heading a rare corner over the bar from close range. This is a lot better from Reading though; they're seeing more of the ball and their defence still looks strong.

TEVEZ SHOT

Manchester City have reasserted their dominance after their shaky start to the second-half. Jem Karacan concedes a free-kick just outside the box which Carlos Tevez takes. He attempts to catch Adam Federici out by curling a shot to the top-corner. Federici is alert though and manages to punch the ball clear.

EARLY READING CHANCE

Reading almost catch City napping when Jimmy Kebe breaks down the right wing immediately from kick-off. Jem Karacan collects the ball from him and almost picks out Pavel Pogrebnyak in the middle. A Reading goal would surely spice this game up.

SECOND-HALF

Reading kick-off the second-half at a subdued and rainy Etihad.

HALF-TIME

There's no doubt about which team have dominated this half. Manchester City have had the better of everything but they just haven't been able to convert their chances. Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez have stood out so far but Reading have defended gladiatorially and they've looked worthy of an unlikely away point.

CITY BECOMING FRUSTRATED

City are starting to look slightly frustrated at not being able to break down the Reading defence and Karim Rekik hits a speculative cross from deep which Adam Federici collects easily. If Reading keep this up they might have a chance here today.

MORE CITY CHANCES

David Silva comes forward again but he's struggling to find a way past a packed Reading defence. Crosses from Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero both have crosses blocked before Pablo Zabaleta hits a low, driven shot at goal which is deflected just over the bar for a corner.

BOOKING CORRECTION

The earlier booking to Alex Pearce was actually given to Chris Gunter who was also tugging on the shirt of Carlos Tevez.

BARRY CHANCE

Gareth Barry is presented with the best chance of the game so far. Carlos Tevez drives in a cross which finds Barry free eight yards from goal. His header is hit straight at Adam Federici though; anywhere else and City would be celebrating a goal.

LAST DITCH DEFENDING

Sergio Aguero almost squeezes a pass between two Reading defenders to Carlos Tevez who is free in the box. Adrian Mariappa just cuts it out in time though and the danger is averted for now.

PEARCE BOOKING

Alex Pearce is booked for a shirt pull on Carlos Tevez. Both Reading centre-backs have now been cautioned so they'll be walking a real tightrope for the rest of the game.

POSSESSION FOOTBALL

Reading can't get a touch of the ball and it's looking more and more like a game of attack versus defence. The Royals have ten men behind the ball with only Pavel Pogrebnyak having set foot in the opposition half in the last few minutes. Yaya Toure and David Silva look quite happy to torment the opposition in midfield as they patiently build an attack.

AGUERO BOOKING

Sergio Aguero is booked for catching Jem Karacan with his studs while challenging for a 50/50 ball.

CITY DOMINANCE

It's all City so far at the Etihad, they've had plenty of chances in the opening quarter of an hour and it seems like it's only a matter of time until one's converted.

TEVEZ CHANCE

Karim Rekik does well to hold up the ball on the left-wing before knocking it back to David Silva. He puts a dangerous cross into the box which is controlled well by Carlos Tevez and hit at goal but Adam Federici manages to keep his close-range shot out.

MANCHESTER CITY CHANCES

Manchester City enjoy two chances in quick succession. Sergio Aguero plays a ball across the face of goal which nobody can get on the end of. It's knocked behind for a corner which is taken by David Silva and blazed over the bar by Sergio Aguero.

HART MISTAKE

Joe Hart gives the ball away carelessly to Jimmy Kebe deep in his own half. Kebe attempts a shot on the open goal while Hart is back-peddaling but it floats wide.

MANCHESTER CITY DOMINANT

City have settled down and they're enjoying the majority of possession in the opening minutes. Yaya Toure, the recently crowned African Player of the Year is chasing down everything in midfield and his passing has been inch perfect.

READING ATTACK

Reading have the first attack of the game and a Jimmy Kebe cross almost finds Pavel Pogrebnyak in the box. Kolo Toure manages to clear to Carlos Tevez and he's taken down ruthlessly by Adrian Mariappa. He'll be the first man in the referee's book for that challenge.

KICK-OFF

Manchester City get us underway at the Etihad.

READING TEAM NEWS

Reading have made four changes from their midweek loss to Arsenal with Chris Gunter, Alex Pearce, Ian Harte and Jem Karacan all coming into the team at the expense of Noel Hunt, Shaun Cummings, Nicky Shorey and Kaspars Gorkss.

MANCHESTER CITY TEAM NEWS

18-year-old Dutchman Karim Rekik will make his Manchester City debut at left-back in place of Gael Clichy. Gareth Barry returns to the starting line-up and James Milner is back in the team as a substitute.

REF WATCH

Mike Dean takes charge of today's game. It'll be his twelfth of the season and he's already given out 38 yellow cards, one red card and two penalties.

READING EARLY TEAM NEWS

Jason Roberts looks set to miss out through injury but Danny Guthrie, Jimmy Kebe and Jem Karacan should all be fit to play after injuries.

MANCHESTER CITY EARLY TEAM NEWS

City's influential captain Vincent Kompany faces a late fitness test while Samir Nasri, Aleksandar Kolarov and Mario Balotelli are all definitely out of today's game. Gareth Barry is eligible again after suspension and James Milner could make his return to the starting line-up.

BOTTOM OF THE TABLE READING DESPERATE FOR POINTS

The Premier League's bottom club will face one of their toughest tests of the season today at the Etihad. They've lost six games in a row and have only won nine points so far this season, with just two of those coming away from home.

MANCINI CHASING SECOND TITLE

Roberto Mancini said during the week that a second consecutive title would be even sweeter than last season's triumph, a win today will be seen as a necessity if the Sky Blues are to keep the pressure on cross-city rivals Manchester United. City bounced back in style against Newcastle last weekend after their derby disappointment and they'll be confident of picking up all three points today without the distraction of Mario Balotelli to deal with.

MATCH PREVIEW

Today's game sees second place Manchester City take on Reading at the Etihad. The Champions need three points to maintain their title challenge but Reading are also desperate not to be left adrift at the foot of the table. These sides last met in the Premier League in March 2008 when Reading ran out 2-0 winners; the Royals would no doubt settle for a similar outcome today.