Dwight Gayle scored his third goal in as many games to help Derby beat Reading 2-1.

Sam Smith cancelled out Gayle’s opener but Royals skipper Andy Yiadom was sent off before a Conor Hourihane penalty clinched victory.

Derby started strongly and it needed a great save from Joel Pereira to keep out a Joe Ward free-kick in the 11th minute.

Reading grew into the game but Derby twice went close with Pereira making another fine stop to deny Tom Barkhuizen in the 31st minute before Eiran Cashin headed a free-kick against a post two minutes later.

The game burst into life early in the second half with both sides trading goals before Reading were reduced to 10 men.

Gayle latched onto Ward’s pass to put Derby ahead in the 53rd minute, only for Smith to head in Yiadom’s cross three minutes later.

Yiadom was shown a second yellow card in the 59th minute for a foul on Hourihane, who restored Derby’s lead from the spot in the 70th minute after Pereira caught Gayle.

Sergio Romero will leave Manchester United when his contract expires this month, but talks are ongoing over a new deal for Juan Mata.

Romero had served as David de Gea's understudy after joining from Sampdoria in 2015, although he slipped down the pecking order following Dean Henderson's return from his successful loan stint at Sheffield United.

The Argentina international was axed from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Premier League and Champions League squads last season, with his last appearance for the club coming against FC Copenhagen in the Europa League on August 10 last year. 

Mata, meanwhile, made just 18 appearances last season – 10 of which were starts – and scored three goals. 

He earned a rare start in the Premier League season-finale 2-1 victory at Wolves on May 23, in which he scored the winning penalty on the stroke of half-time. 

Mata, 33, joined United from Chelsea in January 2014 and it appears he will extend his stay at Old Trafford into a ninth season. 

He could be joined in United's 2021-22 squad by reserve goalkeeper Lee Grant, who is also in talks over a new deal, but fellow stopper Joel Pereira will leave the club during the off-season.

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