Steve Clarke delighted for in-form striker Nick Blackman

Reading manager Steve Clarke paid tribute to in-form Nick Blackman after the prolific striker secured a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Charlton.

With the Addicks a man down following centre-back Patrick Bauer's red card midway through the second half, Blackman nodded in his 10th goal of the season in the 76th minute.

It was also his ninth goal in as many games in all competitions as Reading recorded a sixth Sky Bet Championship win in seven outings.

"He can't stop scoring," Clarke said. "I told him after the game, 'it's a terrible habit but keep it up'.

"It was a great header from Nick. I thought his performance from the first minute today was probably one of his best.

"And it didn't matter where I put him on the pitch. I kept trying different combinations to try to unlock their defence and, wherever I put him, he was excellent.

"Nick has to take all the credit. Players mature at different rates. They get confidence, especially attacking players, and once they start to score goals and feel in a good place, their performances can keep on building. Nick has to take all the credit, not me.

"It was the kind of game we were expecting. We knew that if we couldn't get the early goal, it would become a test of patience. There was only one team on the pitch trying to win the game."

Reading struggled initially to break down a Charlton side which had not won in seven matches in all competitions.

Lucas Piazon should have done better early on, after latching on to Orlando Sa's cute back heel, but Charlton goalkeeper Nick Pope saved at his near post.

As Reading continued to press, half-chances came and went for Ola John, Blackman, Sa and Oliver Norwood.

Charlton could barely get going and it took until the 41st minute for their first shot - on or off target - when home goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi made a sprawling save to keep out a 20-yard shot from Johann Gudmundsson.

Reading still dominated after the interval but, on a rare Charlton foray forward, Bauer volleyed over from a Zakarya Bergdich corner.

But Bauer's involvement ended in the 68th minute, when he was sent off for a second yellow card - a foul on Blackman as he raced through.

Charlton paid for that eight minutes later, when Piazon crossed from the left flank to the far post and Blackman nodded home.

Charlton head coach Guy Luzon said: "We had a game plan and prepared well. We knew before that Reading had a lot of quality. When we played with 11 players, we really gave everything. We were well organised.

"But the red card changed the game. It gave Reading the advantage. With 10 against 11, it was difficult to hold them. The sending off was far away from me. If it was a foul, maybe it was a yellow card. I don't know."