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Cardiff moved to within three points of the Championship play-off places courtesy of a win over 10-man Reading.

It was a miserable night for Royals defender Alex Pearce, whose own goal gave the home side the lead.

The 26-year-old was then sent off for a trip on Adam Le Fondre in the box that allowed Peter Whittingham to double City's advantage from the penalty spot.

Michael Hector's late strike gave the 10 men of Reading hope of a point but Cardiff held on for the victory.

The win is the Bluebirds' second in five games and their fifth in a row at home.

The Royals remain without an away win since a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough on 30 August, with them losing six of the last seven on the road.

They were always up against it from the moment Pearce was shown a straight red for his foul on Le Fondre just before half-time.

The Royals already trailed after Pearce had accidentally deflected Whittingham's cross into his own net, and the Cardiff midfielder made the away side's task even harder by firing his spot-kick past Adam Federici.

However, Nigel Adkins' side battled back and were rewarded when Hector's low drive found its way into the goal through the legs of home goalkeeper David Marshall in the 81st minute.

But Cardiff, assisted by their numerical advantage, were able to see out the remainder of the game to move up to 11th in the Championship table, three places and five points ahead of their opponents.