The hosts, the division’s lowest scorers, were the brighter starters and created two headed chances for Sory Kaba, although he put one the wrong side of the post and saw the other saved.
Kion Etete was then denied by goalkeeper Joe Lumley, who made a sharp stop at his near post, before Kaba wasted a third opening when he nodded off target despite being left unmarked in the six-yard box.
It only looked like a matter of time until City scored, and some fans inside the stadium thought they had broken the deadlock when Perry Ng’s free-kick rippled the side netting.
The Bluebirds couldn’t find a goal before HT though, and nor could the visitors, who failed to even register a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
That lack of potency continued after the break, as despite earning a handful of corners, the Royals failed to pose any kind of threat. At the other end, Naby Sarr nearly diverted a fierce cross into his own goal, while Reading were almost gifted a goal when ‘keeper Ryan Allsop just about recovered from an air-kick that came close to gifting possession to Yakou Méïté in the six-yard box.
It looked like the game was set to peter out into a draw, with Cardiff left frustrated when Callum Robinson and Sheyi Ojo rattled the bar in the final 15 minutes. However, Sawyers had other ideas, as a lusty swing of his right boot earned the three points, with his 92nd-minute strike arrowing into the bottom corner and lifting Sabri Lamouchi’s side five points clear of the relegation zone.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jaden Philogene (Cardiff)
