Grimsby are still looking for their first home win of the season after Reading became the latest side to leave Blundell Park with three points.

Strikes from Andy Hughes, Nicky Forster and an Alan Pouton own-goal at the death earned the Royals victory even though Grimsby battled back gamely in the second half.

For all Town's pressure after the break, Alan Pardew's side were rarely troubled and registered their third away victory of the season.

It was Pardew's men who instantly went on the offensive.

Their front line were causing a weakened Grimsby defence all sorts of problems, and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 13th minute.

Tony Rougier did well to flick the ball on to Hughes, and the midfielder made no mistake from 18 yards with a crisp finish past goalkeeper Danny Coyne.

Reading doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark, courtesy of Forster.

The striker justified Pardew's decision to recall him as he waltzed past a crumbling defence before coolly slotting the ball past the helpless Coyne.

Second-half fightback

Darren Barnard almost halved the deficit with a typically precise free-kick, but Ashdown was equal to it and produced a superb save just before the break.

Despite Grimsby's dominance in the second-half, Reading defended stoutly and restricted Paul Groves' men to hopeful long-range efforts rather than clear-cut chances on the Royals goal.

With time running out, the home side ran out of ideas to break down a resolute defence - and it was the visitors who looked the more likely to add to their advantage.

So it proved as Pouton diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper in the dying seconds of the game to seal a thoroughly miserable afternoon for Grimsby.

Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Raven, Ford, Barnard, Campbell, Coldicott, Pouton, Cooke, Kabba, Mansaram.
Subs: Robinson, Rowan, Santos, Allaway, Ward.

Reading: Ashdown, Murty, Williams, Upson, Shorey, Newman, Hughes, Watson, Salako, Forster, Rougier.
Subs: Butler, Cureton, Harper, Henderson, Young.

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)