Aston Villa's Under-23s were beaten 3-1 by Reading in Premier League 2 - Division 2 at Bearwood Park on Friday afternoon.
Goals from Thierry Nevers and Femi Azeez put the hosts two goals ahead, before Arjan Raikhy pulled one back for Villa.
Despite the fightback, Reading put the game out of sight when Mungo Bridge was sent off inside the last 10 minutes, with Ryan East converting the resulting penalty.
Mark Delaney's side went into the game following their stunning 3-2 win at Norwich City last week and they started brightly, keeping the ball well and creating opportunities, but without really testing Coniah Boyce-Clarke in the Reading goal.
A couple of those chances fell to Aaron Ramsey with one finding the side-netting, but Reading struck just before half-time through Nevers' strike.
Villa continued to look for a way back into the contest but Azeez doubled the lead as the game moved towards the final 20 minutes.
Raikhy gave the visitors hope, finding the net with a low shot from inside the area on 72 minutes, but the momentum was halted when Bridge was given his marching orders nine minutes later, with East making no mistake from the spot to restore Reading's two-goal lead.
Villa remain third in the table following the defeat, with six wins and 20 points from their 14 games.
Reading: Boyce-Clarke, Ashcroft, Bristow, East, Watson, Dorsett, Pendlebury (Luzon 19'), Lawless, Ajose (Leavy 43'), Camara, Nevers (Azeez 46').
Substitute not used: Holden.
Aston Villa: Onódi; Walker, M. Sonha (C) (Bridge 64'), Bogarde (H. Sohna 75'), S. Revan; Sylla, Chukwuemeka; Farr (T. Rowe 67'), Raikhy, Chrisene; A. Ramsey.
Substitute not used: Zych.