CHERRIES preserved their five-point lead at the Championship summit with a professional 2-0 win at Reading.

The only goal of a tight first half arrived courtesy of the head of Dominic Solanke.

Substitute Jamal Lowe then doubled the tally just before the hour mark, with Cherries closing out the win to extend to 15 matches their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

It sets a new club record in the process, with Cherries’ previous longest unbeaten start coming in the 1961-62 campaign, as more than 2,000 travelling fans were sent back home happy.

Scott Parker again named an unchanged side following the 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town, but there was a notable addition among the substitutes.

Junior Stanislas missed out with a hamstring injury, with Lewis Cook taking his place. It was the midfielder’s first appearance among a matchday squad since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his knee back in March.

Reading made one switch from their loss at Blackburn, with George Puscas replacing the injured Femi Azeez up front.

After a frantic start, the first half-chance fell the way of Reading, with Puscas turning wide on the stretch.

Then, just after Cherries had ticked beyond the staggering 10-hour mark without conceding an away league goal, Reading created some clearer openings.

After Josh Laurent had fired over, Puscas wasted a glorious chance. Gary Cahill was almost left red-faced after attempting to play the ball off John Swift for a goal kick. However, Swift kept the ball in play and cleverly produced a rabona cross for a free Puscas in the middle. Fortunately for Cahill and Cherries, Puscas, still seeking his first goal of the season, fired wide on the volley.

The visitors began to grow into the contest with Cahill heading over from a corner, before the deadlock was broken just two minutes before the break.

It was a set piece which provided the breakthrough. Jaidon Anthony floated a corner to the back post for Cahill to nod it back across goal. Waiting to turn it home was Reading-born frontman Solanke, with his downward header finding its way in, despite the best efforts of Liam Moore to clear off the line.

It proved to be the only shot on target from either side in the entire first half.

Parker made a switch at half-time, with Gavin Kilkenny replaced by Ben Pearson in midfield.

The hosts created the first opening of the second half, but Lloyd Kelly was alert to produce a vital sliding block to deny Puscas from six yards.

Parker quickly turned back to his bench, introducing Lowe in place of Anthony.

And the switch paid instant dividends. After Danny Drinkwater lost the ball, Philip Billing slipped in Lowe down the left. The forward cut inside and calmly guided a shot into the bottom corner, just minutes after coming on the pitch.

Parker made his final change of the evening with 20 minutes to play, Chris Mepham coming on for Jordan Zemura, who had earlier picked up a knock following a heavy challenge by Laurent in the first half.

Veljko Paunovic turned to his bench in the closing minutes, with young striker Jahmari Clarke coming on, but he could not help Reading carve a route back into the contest.

Scott Dann went closest, his stoppage-time header brilliantly tipped away by Travers.

Cherries: Travers; Stacey, Cahill, Kelly, Zemura (Mepham, 70); Kilkenny (Pearson, h-t), Lerma, Billing; Christie, Anthony (Lowe, 56), Solanke.

Subs: L Cook, Marcondes, Rogers, Nyland (g/k).

Booked: Kilkenny, Anthony, Mepham.

Reading: Southwood; Yiadom, Moore, Dann, Rahman; Drinkwater, Laurent; Dele-Bashiru, Swift, Ejaria; Puscas (Clarke, 85).

Subs: Holmes, Camara, Ehibhatiomham, Osorio, Ashcroft, Rafael (g/k).

Booked: Laurent.

Referee: Oliver Langford.