They may have come up from the Championship together, but it looks like Reading may be going straight back down after a 2 - 0 defeat to Southampton at the Madjeski Stadium.

Reading, managed by ex-Southampton boss Nigel Adkins, made a bright start in front of their home crowd. But it was the Saints who struck first through the in-form Jay Rodriguez on 34 minutes.

The striker, who has been linked with Liverpool, ran onto a Rickie Lambert pass, and got his studs to the ball before goalkeeper Adam Federici.

The Saints dominated the second period and made sure of the three points with 20 minutes to go. Adam Lallana ran onto a through ball and slipped the ball past Federici.

Five minutes later Reading thought they had got the ball over the Southampton goal-line after Artur Brouc back-pedalled towards his own net while catching an Adam Le Fondre header, but the linesman decided that the ball had not crossed the line.

The defeat leaves the Royals bottom of the table, seven points from safety with six games to go. Meanwhile Mauricio Pocchettino's Southampton are just two points off the Top 10 in 11th and are on course for safety.