Reading ended Exeter’s winning run with a 2-1 victory at St James Park.
The Royals made the perfect start to take the lead inside a minute, after Exeter were caught playing with the ball inside their own penalty box.
Harvey Knibbs laid a pass back to Jayden Wareham, who fired past Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth with only 58 seconds on the clock.
It was the first goal City had conceded after six successive clean sheets and the home side struggled to deal with Reading’s high press.
Further errors led to half chances for the Royals, but they failed to make the most of them.
It was eventually 2-0 nine minutes before the break.
A shot was blocked and with goalkeeper Whitworth grounded, Reading defender Michael Craig fired an instinctive first-time effort into the net from 18 yards.
Exeter, who had won their last three league games, were much improved after the break.
Ilmari Niskanen scuffed a great chance straight at Royals keeper Joel Pereira.
The Finnish international did much better on 58 minutes, hammering the ball in at the back post from Jack McMillan’s cross to reduce the deficit.
McMillan, substitutes Kamari Doyle and Millenic Alli all had chances to level before Niskanen hit the inside of the post.
Niskanen then headed another great chance wide as Exeter laid siege to the Reading goal, but they could not find an equaliser.
