Reading keeper Adam Federici was soon called into action, comfortably saving Adam Lallana's half volley and palming away Rickie Lambert's curling effort from the edge of the area at full stretch.
Mandroiu almost bagged his brace on the stroke of half - time, when Sanders picked out the Irishman inside the area, but Stoke goalkeeper Mitch Allen made a fantastic save atfullstretch from the midfielder's header.