Reading rediscovered their winning touch when they defeated Brighton 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium in the Championship on Tuesday.

Striker Jamie Mackie scored a goal in each half for Reading, both of them powerful shots that beat Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale.

The Seagulls had cancelled out Mackie's first-half opener early in the second half when Chris O'Grady stroked home a penalty.

Reading made five changes to the side that started the gruelling goalless draw with Bradford in the FA Cup quarterfinal at Valley Parade on Saturday.

As well as facing Brighton, Steve Clarke's team also have an away league game against Watford on Saturday, 48 hours before the cup replay at the Madejski. The winners take on Arsenal in the semifinals at Wembley.

Reading's recent home form had been woeful, with three defeats in a row and not a goal scored.

Brighton's away record was poor, too -- they had not scored in four successive matches on their travels -- but they had won three of their previous four games, with all those victories coming at home.

The statistics possibly pointed to a dour encounter, but both teams contributed equally to a lively opening.

Reading could have gone in front when Garath McCleary chipped over a free-kick and Jake Cooper miscued an effort towards goal. The ball was still going in, but Jake Forster-Caskey hacked it off the goalline.

Hal Robson-Kanu could have struck soon afterwards but, having run through the Seagulls' shaky defensive cover, blazed his shot over the crossbar.

Brighton's early promise soon returned and Greg Halford, a former Reading defender, should have done better from Emmanuel Ledesma's free-kick but headed tamely at home goalkeeper Adam Federici.

It was to prove a costly miss, with Reading going ahead in the 24th minute after a weak clearance from Stockdale.

Hope Akpan latched on to it and released Mackie, who strode forward and fired a fierce drive past the goalkeeper for Reading's first home goal in 344 minutes.

Brighton offered little going forward, and Reading should have increased their advantage before half-time. Michael Hector drove over after good work by Robson-Kanu, and Stockdale then saved well from the striker's low shot.

Reinvigorated after the break, Brighton drew level in the 53rd minute when Cooper clumsily pushed Ledesma over in the area and O'Grady easily despatched the penalty.

But three minutes later, the Royals regained their lead as Mackie cut in from the right flank and sent a powerful low shot skidding past Stockdale.

Nick Blackman twice had chances as Reading continued to dominate. First, he drove a free kick straight at Stockdale, and then he volleyed over from McCleary's pinpoint cross.

Brighton faded in the closing stages and Reading held on comfortably.