Johnson looked lively enough against a determined Reading side, but when his big moment came in the 85th minute, the former Crystal Palace marksman was out of luck, his close-range effort hitting the inside of the post after James McFadden had chipped the ball against the bar.

Everton, though, never really did enough to have merited a third straight league win, and Reading were good value for their first three points of the season, claimed courtesy of Stephen Hunt’s neat finish late in the first half.

The first opening of the match had come on six minutes.

Korean Seol Ki-Hyeon got away down the right and whipped over a low cross towards the near post, where Kevin Doyle saw his shot put behind by Joleon Lescott.

Reading kept up the pressure.

Hunt was picked out on the left flank, and put another decent ball across the face of the Everton six-yard box, which only would have needed a touch.

Everton had a good chance following a quick break.

A deep ball into the penalty area found Mikel Arteta, who cut it back for Johnson.

The England man took a touch before firing a snap-shot goalwards from 10 yards - only for Andre Bikey to deflect the ball over the bar.

Reading felt they had a penalty claim in the 19th minute.

A cross from Shane Long, on the left, looked to have been deflected behind by Lescott’s outstretched arm. Referee Steve Bennett, however, signalled for a corner.

The Royals – who drew 0-0 at Old Trafford in their opening match – were having a good spell.

Bikey’s cross from the right was met by Doyle on the penalty spot, but the striker guided his first-time shot just wide.

Hunt headed a chip from Doyle into the ground when arriving at the far post, and Everton cleared the danger.

For their part, the visitors appeared happy enough to soak up pressure and look to hit Reading on the break.

Following some patient build-up, Everton worked the ball to Leon Osman on the right side of the area.

However, his shot went spinning away from the target.

Reading snatched the lead on 44 minutes.

A long throw by Ulises de la Cruz, from the right, bounced over Doyle – who was being manhandled by Alan Stubbs – and through to Hunt, six yards out.

The Royals midfielder took one touch, before coolly slotting the ball past Tim Howard.

Everton looked more determined following the restart, and Johnson made some progress with runs into the channels.

When Johnson did finally get a half-chance coming in on the angle under pressure, his attempted chip sailed over the bar.

As the hour mark passed, neither side really had the upper hand.

It was Reading, though, who continued to look the more creative, quick to close down when not in possession.

And Royals defender Bikey was calmness personified when he coolly tapped a loose ball behind from in front of his own goal.

Everton substitute Steven Pienaar got clear down the right side of the area and drilled in a low shot, which Marcus Hahnemann turned around his near post.

Lescott was then booked for shoving over Long near the touchline. From the resulting free-kick, Ivar Ingimarsson was also cautioned after he clattered into Everton keeper Howard.

The visitors continued to press for an equaliser – but were left frustrated when substitute McFadden went down after going past James Harper and was promptly booked for simulation.

The Scot then saw his chip come back off the crossbar, and when the ball dropped to Johnson in the six-yard box with five minutes left, a goal looked certain.

However, the England man could only stab his effort off the inside of the post, which just about summed up Everton’s afternoon.