page_title: 2013–14 Reading F.C. season
section_title: September
hierarchical_section_title: 2013–14 Reading F.C. season / Season review / September
caption_attribution_description: English: Jem Karacan playing for Reading in 2013.
context_page_description: The 2013–14 season was Reading Football Club's first season back in the Championship following the sides's relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2012–13 season. It was also Nigel Adkins' only full season in charge of the club having succeeded Brian McDermott in March 2013.
  The campaign began with a home win over Ipswich Town and after ten games the team had lost only once and were in the play-off places. Six defeats in 13 games between October and the new year saw Reading slip to 9th, though their form improved in January with three wins from five, including 7–1 and 5–1 victories over Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool respectively. Despite mixed form from February onwards, Reading remained in contention for the play-offs until the last game of the season. Needing only to equal Brighton & Hove Albion's result to finish in the top six, the team drew at home to already promoted Burnley whilst Brighton scored a last-minute winner at Nottingham Forest. Reading therefore finished seventh and were consigned to the Championship for another season. In the two domestic cup competitions, Reading were knocked out at the stage they entered.
context_section_description: On transfer deadline day Adrian Mariappa was the only player to leave the club, following Kébé to Crystal Palace. The first game of the month was a friendly against Oman which Reading lost 2–0. They resumed competitive action on 15 September against Brighton & Hove Albion in a televised game that ended 0–0. The first half saw Pavel Pogrebnyak sent off for two bookings while Brighton's Leonardo Ulloa also departed after receiving a straight red card. Reading then faced Leeds United who were under the management of former boss Brian McDermott and, after losing Jem Karacan early on to a serious knee injury, Adam le Fondre headed home in the 96th minute to steal a 1–0 win.
  On 20 September, Reading signed Northern Ireland international defender Chris Baird on a free transfer following his release from Fulham. Matt Partridge joined Basingstoke Town on a one-month loan while Daniel Lincoln was on the move again, joining Harrow Borough on a similar deal. Baird went straight into the team for the game against Derby County at Pride Park which Reading won 3–1. The returning Pavel Pogrebnyak opened the scoring with his first goal for the club since January before doubling their lead with his second of the game. Will Hughes pulled on back for Derby but Nick Blackman's injury time strike secured the win for Reading. Billy Sharp joined on an emergency loan from Southampton late in the month. He was an unused substitute for the game against Birmingham City which Reading won 2–0 through two Danny Guthrie free kicks. Guthrie was later nominated for Championship Player of the Month but lost out to Ipswich Town striker David McGoldrick.
caption: Jem Karacan ruptured his anterior cruciate and medial ligaments against Leeds United and was ruled out for six to nine months.
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