Birmingham, England:
The Belgium striker met a left-wing corner with a downward header that bounced high into the net in the 80th minute, earning his team only its third victory in 14 matches.
The goal settled a scrappy game between two teams that are set to be involved in a relegation battle this season. Reading stayed second from bottom but is now just four points clear of Queens Park Rangers, which drew 0-0 at Sunderland.
Benteke had a weak shot saved and Brett Holman blazed over with Villa's other good chances.
Reading is without an away win in seven matches since returning to England's top flight.
Topics mentioned in this article
Football
Aston Villa
Manchester City
Alex Ferguson
Mark Hughes
Christian Benteke
English Premier League
Advertisement
Get the Latest Cricket Updates, Check Out Paralympics 2024 Medals Tally, Schedule, Results and News Updates at NDTV Sports. Like Us On Facebook Or Follow Us On Twitter For More Sports Updates. You Can Also Download The NDTV Cricket App For Android Or Ios.