Hull City 1 Reading 0: Brady winner ends Tigers’ long wait for KC Stadium victory

Brady, pictured right, curled a cross-shot into the top corner with 17 minutes remaining to settle a dour contest.

Pearson admitted his team “needed the result” as Hull claimed only their second win at home since February 12, and he hailed livewire 19-year-old Brady for his contribution.

“It’s great for Robbie as he’s been frustrated in training this week,” said Pearson.

“I’m not sure whether he meant the goal, but it doesn’t matter. There is a lot of expectation on him and he is a match-winner.

“He’s young and inexperienced and he’ll make mistakes from time to time, but I’m really pleased with him so far and what he has brought to the squad.”

Pearson, who said he hopes to make “a couple of signings” before Wednesday’s transfer deadline, added: “It was always going to be a tight game because you can see we’re not playing with the greatest amount of confidence.

“It’s a good win for us because it’s been a tough start to the season. We were on the front foot for the majority of the game and we defended with a lot of discipline.

“We still need to score more goals, but I know we’ll get it right. We have six points but it’s important the players remain as upbeat as possible.”

Reading manager Brian McDermott felt his side deserved a point in a game of few chances.

“It was fading towards being a nil-nil game before the goal,” he said.

“We looked fine at one end but we need to do more at the other end. We’re not a team that goes away and tries to play for a nil-nil draw, but we need to be more ruthless and tougher.

“Defensively we were fine, but we need to do more in the final third.”

McDermott, who is keen for his side to shake off any hangover from their play-off final defeat to Swansea last season, added: “Last season we were so close to the Premier League and sometimes that can have an impact the following season.

“But we need to get on with it. There are 120 more points to play for and we have the next two games at home.”

The defeat at Hull marked Reading’s fourth consecutive loss in the league and cup by a single goal, but McDermott believes the arrival of Rotherham striker Adam le Fondre will boost his side’s firepower.

“We needed to bring in someone with a predatory instinct,” the Reading boss said. “He had his medical last night and the deal is done but we didn’t consider him for today’s game.”

Reading carved out the better openings early on. Hal Robson-Kanu scuffed a shot at Adriano Basso and then Jimmy Kebe was unlucky to see a header from point-blank range ruled out.

Adam Federici tipped Matty Fryatt’s drive onto the roof of the net, but the Reading goalkeeper was given no chance by Brady’s curling left-footed effort.

Hull: Basso, Rosenior, Chester, Hobbs, Dawson, Koren, McKenna, Cairney, Brady, Mclean (Simpson 87), Fryatt (Barmby 80). Unused substitutes: Evans, Dudgeon, Adebola.

Reading: Federici, Griffin (Church 79), Pearce, Gorkss, Harte (Joseph Mills 82), McAnuff, Karacan, Leigertwood, Kebe, Hunt (Manset 73), Robson-Kanu. Unused substitutes: McCarthy, Gunnarsson.

Referee: O Langford (W Midlands). Man of the match: Robbie Brady.