The bookmakers ranked newly-promoted Reading among the favourites to be relegated when they drew up their odds last summer.

It's very rare that the bookies get it wrong and they didn't as far as the Royals are concerned. Even a change of management from Brian McDermott to Nigel Adkins earlier this year failed to alter the club's fate as they were relegated in late April.

Sports Mole looks back over the team's campaign before they head back down to the Championship.

August

A stoppage-time penalty from Adam Le Fondre rescued a 1-1 draw for the Royals on the opening day of the season against Stoke City at the Madejski Stadium. That was followed by a trip to Chelsea and despite a spirited display, the home side ran out 4-2 winners.

A win over Championship side Peterborough United in the Capital One Cup lifted some of the disappointment though.

Perhaps the strangest part of the month was the postponement of Reading's match at Sunderland because of waterlogged pitch - in August!

September

It was a similar story in September as two defeats and a draw against Newcastle United were collected, which meant that McDermott's men had still not won a match in the Premier League.

The League Cup continued to provide some solace though as Queens Park Rangers were beaten 3-2 at Loftus Road.

© PA Photos

October

There were goals aplenty in matches involving Reading during October, but they still could not find that league victory. There was a 2-2 draw with Swansea City, while six goals were split evenly with Fulham.

Those games had nothing on the League Cup tie with Arsenal at the Madejski though. Reading were 4-0 up within 37 minutes, but the Gunners somehow forced extra time with four goals of their own. That wasn't the end of the drama either as the away side eventually ran out 7-5 winners.

In contrast to that, the trip to Anfield was dull and ended in a 1-0 defeat.

November

Draws with QPR and Norwich City set the Royals up for what was their first win against Everton next time out, with Le Fondre scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory.

That was followed by costly defeats to fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa.

December

From the seven matches that they played in December, Reading lost five, which left them deep in relegation trouble.

The month started with a 4-3 home defeat at the hands of Manchester United, with all the goals being scored in the first half. Then came losses to Southampton, Sunderland, Arsenal and Manchester City.

There was a bright ending though as a 0-0 draw with Swansea City was accompanied by a 1-0 win over West Ham United.

© PA Photos

January

Both McDermott and Le Fondre picked up the Premier League's monthly awards as Reading breathed new life into the battle against relegation at the turn of the year.

Having lost away at Tottenham, wins were achieved against West Brom and Newcastle. This was backed up by a 2-2 draw with Chelsea where Le Fondre scored twice in the last three minutes.

There was further success in the FA Cup as first Crawley Town and then Sheffield United were beaten.

February

A brace from Jimmy Kebe sealed a 2-1 win over Sunderland as February got off to a positive start. However, they were dragged back into danger courtesy of defeats against Stoke and Wigan.

The road to Wembley was also blocked by Man United, who ran out 2-1 winners in the FA Cup tie at Old Trafford.

March

It was during March where the club started to look destined for the Championship. Four matches against Everton, Reading, Man United and Arsenal all ended in defeats as Reading were cut adrift in the relegation zone.

The loss to Villa proved too much for owner Anton Zingarevich, who sacked McDermott. The 52-year-old would eventually end the campaign as manager of Leeds United in the second tier.

© Daniel Hambury / PA Photos

April

The appointment of Adkins failed to spark a change in fortunes as Southampton and Norwich both collected maximum points from their clashes against the Royals.

There was a credible 0-0 draw with Liverpool, but the same scoreline with QPR at the end of the month saw both sides demoted to the Championship.

May

With the pressure off, Hal Robson-Kanu found the net twice as Adkins claimed his first win away at Fulham as the sun shone in West London. They failed to build upon that momentum though as FA Cup finalists Man City won 2-0 at the Madejski.

It was a similar story as the curtain came down on the Premier League campaign, with the Royals slumping to a 4-2 defeat away at West Ham United. Another goal for Le Fondre in that game though resulted in reports that he could remain in the top flight with another club.