Oxford United substitutes Gatlin O'Donkor and Mo Missanga both scored as the U's beat Reading in the Thames Valley derby at the Kassam Stadium.

Aaron Ramsey's side took the lead in the second half when O'Donkor was played into the area and struck low into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Missanga then doubled the lead moments later as he spun in the box and produced an improvised finish to knock the ball past Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira.

Oxford are up to third in the League One table and are outside of the top two on goal difference, while Leam Richardson's Reading remain sixth.

Reading started the game with an aggressive press and broke in behind when Jack Marriott slipped Kyreece Lisbie into space down the right, the winger then flashed a cross across the box that was narrowly missed by Daniel Kyerewaa.

The Oxford fans wanted a penalty just before the break when Tyler Goodrham went down in the area while trying to control a high ball, but referee Darren Drysdale firmly waved away the appeals.

Reading then went up the other end as Lisbie broke forward on the counter and found Marriott whose powerful strike stung the palms of Simon Eastwood from the left-hand side of the area.

Reading made a sharp start to the second half and should have taken the lead when Paudie O'Connor's glancing header struck the post and Jeriel Dorsett failed to convert the rebound as it was cleared off the line by a yellow shirt.

Oxford's players wanted another spot kick just before the hour mark when Aidomo Emakhu went down in the area under a challenge from Marriott but once again, referee Drysdale waved away the appeals.

Reading then played a long ball into the Oxford area that was helped by Ciaron Brown onto his own crossbar, nearly playing it into his own net.

United took the lead in the 71st minute as Cameron Brannagan played a quick free-kick into the area that was chased down by O'Donkor, who fired the ball across goal and into the far corner of the net.

Reading nearly responded immediately when substitute Jacob Brown spun and struck the top of the crossbar with a powerful effort.

But Oxford then doubled their lead when a header was played into the area towards Missanga, who swivelled his body before finishing into the net.

Oxford boss Aaron Ramsey told BBC Radio Oxford:

"It's a brilliant result. I'm super proud of my team and the way that we performed throughout the whole 90 minutes.

"I thought we controlled the game and in the first half we had to be a bit more patient and make them work.

"In the second half the demands are so high that we put on teams, so chances do appear and sometimes it is like that.

"When there's an opportunity from a free-kick or a throw in, that's not a chance for us to rest, it's when we come alive and that was evident in the goals today."

Reading boss Leam Richardson told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"After the game, the first emotion is that I'm absolutely gutted for the fans - with the game that it was - to not get a positive result.

"It's really disappointing. I thought in the first half we were excellent out of possession, we have to be better on transition but we nullified them.

"Then in the second half we started really well and then we switched off and the game's over in five minutes from two set-plays.

"We were so weak around both goals and that's not like us, so it's very disappointing but we'll come again."