Reading 1 Everton 0

Andy Johnson will be hoping for better luck with England next week after spurning a golden late chance to rescue a point for Everton, which lost 1-0 at Reading on Saturday afternoon.

The Toffees striker looks set to be given another chance to impress Steve McClaren against Germany at Wembley on Wednesday night, with England's attacking options hit by injury and forthcoming suspensions ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

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 was good value for its 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 kept up the pressure and Hunt was then picked out on the left flank, and put another decent ball across the face of the Everton six-yard box, which only would have needed a touch.

Down the other end, a deep ball into the penalty area found Mikel Arteta, who cut it back for Johnson.

The England man took a touch before firing a snap-shot goalwards from 10 yards - only for Andre Bikey to deflect the ball over the bar.

For their part, the visitors appeared happy enough to soak up pressure and look to hit Reading on the break but the hosts snatched the lead on 44 minutes.

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 past Tim Howard.

Everton looked more determined following the restart, and Johnson made some progress with runs into the channels but ss the hour mark passed, neither side really had the upper hand.

It was Reading, though, which continued to look the more creative, quick to close down when not in possession.

And Royals defender Bikey was calmness personified when he coolly tapped a loose ball behind from in front of his own goal.

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.

English Premier League

Reading 1 (Hunt 44)
Everton 0