READING suffered a setback inflicted by the return of the Mackie.
Jamie Mackie, who spent a season on loan at the Madejski two years ago, settled this tie with a clinical finish midway through the first half.
It was only his second goal since joining QPR 18 months ago and sealed a third league win a row for Ian Holloway’s improving Hoops.
But it dealt a big blow to Jaap Stam’s third-placed promotion hopefuls who had only lost one game at home previously this term.
The 12,655 attending souls who braved the snow took part in a minute’s applause in honour of the late Graham Taylor before kick-off – as will all EFL sides this weekend.
Their Old Trafford schooling the FA Cup aside, Reading were in red-hot form and looking to make ground on Newcastle and Brighton in the automatic spots.
Tiago Ilori watched on from the stands ahead of his expected £3.75million no doubt hoping to see a passing masterclass from Stam’s total-football wannabes.
But the Royals’ usually slick passing game was nullified by Holloway’s workaholics who were full of running, organisation and enthusiasm.
A warning shot was fired on 20 minutes when Idrissa Sylla could not quite control Mackie’s ball across the box and fired wide, off-balance.
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Eight minutes later, tireless Pawel Wszolek crossed into youngster Ryan Manning, who lived up to his NFL quarterback namesakes by picking out with a killer pass wide-receiver Mackie to lash home.
Ex-Scotland international Mackie, who was jeered by the hosts but cheered by the travelling fans, should have doubled the lead soon after but saw a shot deflected just wide.
A few boos rang out at half-time but Reading continued to struggle after the break.
Yann Kermorgant hit the bar with a header but that was the nearest the hosts came to an equaliser.
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