Hunt kick-starts Royals campaign

Johnson looked lively enough against a determined Reading side, but when his big moment came in the 85th minute, the former Crystal Palace marksman was out of luck, his close-range effort hitting the inside of the post after James McFadden had chipped the ball against the bar.

Everton, though, never really did enough to have merited a third straight league win, and Reading were good value for their first three points of the season, claimed courtesy of Stephen Hunt's neat finish late in the first half.

The first opening of the match had come on six minutes. Korean Seol Ki-Hyeon got away down the right and whipped over a low cross towards the near post, where Kevin Doyle saw his shot put behind by Joleon Lescott.

Reading felt they had a penalty claim in the 19th minute when a cross from Shane Long, on the left, looked to have been deflected behind by Lescott's outstretched arm. Referee Steve Bennett, however, signalled for a corner.

Reading snatched the lead on 44 minutes when a long throw by Ulises de la Cruz, from the right, bounced over Doyle - who was being manhandled by Alan Stubbs - and through to Hunt, six yards out. The Royals midfielder took one touch, before coolly slotting the ball past Tim Howard.

Everton looked more determined following the restart, and Johnson made some progress with runs into the channels. When Johnson did finally get a half-chance coming in on the angle under pressure, his attempted chip sailed over the bar.

Everton substitute Steven Pienaar got clear down the right side of the area and drilled in a low shot, which Marcus Hahnemann turned around his near post.

The visitors continued to press for an equaliser - but were left frustrated when substitute McFadden went down after going past James Harper and was promptly booked for simulation.

The Scot then saw his chip come back off the crossbar, and when the ball dropped to Johnson in the six-yard box with five minutes left, a goal looked certain. However, the England man could only stab his effort off the inside of the post, which just about summed up Everton's afternoon.