Reading's unbeaten run of six games came to an end with a 1-2 away defeat at league leaders Burnley. The game saw the return to action for Bridge and McAnuff but Reading were forced to suffer their second league defeat of the season and drop to seventh in the Championship table. Reading's man of the match was Alex McCarthy in goal, who was forced into some excellent saves to keep Reading in the game.

Overall, Reading were well beaten despite a nervous finish for the home side after Reading clawed a goal back thanks to an own goal with eight minutes left to play. The game took a long time to get going, and when it did it was a goal for Burnley with just over 20 minutes played. The home side picked up confidence as the game went on, and although Reading enjoyed a reasonable start to the second half, with plenty of the ball, it was Burnley that emerged on top. They probably should have scored more but were frustrated by McCarthy, until they doubled their lead with ten minutes left to play.

Two minutes later Reading, earnt a lifelife when Obita's cross was met by Pogrebnyak, and his effort was deflected in by Shackell past his own goalkeeper. Reading pushed forward in the last minutes and might have stole a point when Gunter headed on target - but unfortunately straight at the Burnley goalkeeper. However, a draw would have been an unfair result on Burnley, who are now seven points ahead of the Royals at the top of the table.

Dull game. Very even in the middle of the park, if anything we controlled it, but Barnsley were massively more effective in both final thirds. The two centre backs were bullied by Burnley's front line and we had nobody who looked like making any kind of difference in attack. The subs made us look better. Obita came into his own in the second half and the likes of Taylor and Blackman made us more threatening without significantly improving the way we were playing.

Burnley were nothing special today. It was a 50/50 game that we lost because we weren't effective enough. Need to improve and quick before the likes of QPR come to town. Most of the fans were excellent today, apart from a choice few who told anyone who dared sing to 'shush'. Cretins. All is not lost...but a slight rethink might be needed.
winchester_royal

Despite the loss I don't feel particularly worried. We are the walking wounded at the moment and this was a tough week with lots if travelling. McAnuff was a definite positive for me today. He made a couple of decent runs 1st half when otherwise we looked 2nd best. I have no doubt he'll be starting the games soon. Guthrie was yet again good today but a shame he has to sit so deep. One thing that did worry was us passing out from the back all the time. We nearly got caught out a few times pissing around outside our box. In the main I like the idea but sometimes you need to boot it upfield! Once Burnley got wind of that Pearce and Morrison were under constant pressure. The fans were great today though. Blue army sang continually for a good 30 mins 2nd half and they never stopped singing throughout. Also don't forget we've done a fair chunk of our lengthy travelling already which has to be a good thing. Blackpool, Bolton, Barnsley and Burnley away all done now. I think we'll be ok once some players return from injury and the break comes at a good time.
MmmMonsterMunch

The trouble you have when you have come down fm the Premier League, and we had it as well despite only one year in the 'sun', is that you think you should play like Arsenal against every side, and win comfortably as though you have a god given right. You don't, and the best sides who go on to win promotions roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. Your fans are deluded otherwise, as ours were for a year or two upon relegation. You'd have thought we'd been up there for 10 years with the way our fans carried on!

Despite what your blue and white spectacles told you, you actually played quite well today. When I say that I can't help mention that in the final third you were lacking. You had good possession in midfield where Guthrie played extremely well - I would love him in our side! but you didn't cause us enough problems in our box. What I noticed today from a Burnley fans perspective, was that we oined (pron 'oynd' - Lancashire speak for harassed) you whenever you had the ball and didn't give you more than a moment to settle. You know what I mean; when you have a cup tie against a superior opposition fm the league above you don't give them a moments rest. That's what we did today until the final 15 minutes when we looked knackered.

Overall I think we deserved the win today based upon our endeavour and our chances, but most of our fans agreed in the pub that it was a good scalp. You have a very good side, one you should be proud of, and you will definitely be up in the mix towards the end of the season. You have too many good players not to be. Overall it was a very good game to watch, and well worth the entrance fee.
Claretforever

Ings celebrated his midweek call-up to the England Under-21 squad by netting the opener after 21 minutes from Kieran Trippier's seemingly innocuous ball. Vokes, a Wales international, then doubled the advantage with 10 minutes remaining from a narrow angle before Shackell's unfortunate own goal two minutes later.

"We have to give credit to Burnley because they sit top of the league and they were very good again in this one," said the Reading manager, Nigel Adkins, whose Royals side fell to their first defeat in seven games. We would like to think we can avoid the types of goals they scored, but we made three substitutions after an hour and changed our shape totally in an effort to control the game better."

"It was only 1-0 at the time and we endeavoured to get something from it, but Burnley worked very, very hard and I thought their front two were exceptional throughout. They worked very hard, but I am disappointed not to have got three points because that is what we came here for. I thought we could have done better but when you come away from home and give teams an opportunity it obviously lifts their players. The place was rocking at times and Burnley put in some fantastic work."
The Guardian

Had it not been for an inspired display from Royals keeper Alex McCarthy, Ings could have had a hat-trick. McCarthy made three superb saves to deny the Burnley striker in the second half. But by then, the damage had been done, with Reading gifting the Clarets No.10 a 21st-minute opener.

Kieran Trippier’s long angled ball in from the right was hit more in hope than expectation – but centre-backs Alex Pearce and Sean Morrison allowed it to drift to the far post for Ings to prod in.

A second goal arrived when Vokes ran clear to slot a shot between McCarthy’s legs. That should have been the end of Reading but the visitors struck back two minutes later when Shackell turned into his own net.
Daily Star