Reading Third At Christmas

By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading delivered a third consecutive 3-2 League defeat to bottom three side Blackburn Rovers, thanks to a stoppage time winner from George Evans. The Royals were twice leading, only to see Blackburn score two equalisers before Evans' late goal sealed the victory, and confirmed that Reading will be third in the table at Christmas. After two straight defeats to nil on the road before this fixture, three goals away from home ensured it will be a very happy Christmas for Jaap Stam and his men.

Blackburn will feel very hard done by in a game in which they matched the Royals until the dying moments. Reading will feel they deserved the victory after making the most of their opportunities and finishing strongly to claim the points. Stam stuck with his team that had lost 0-2 at Leeds on the previous Tuesday, leaving Kermorgant on the bench in favour of Dominic Samuel. That move paid off just after the half hour mark. Garath McCleary had already nearly put Reading ahead with a shot that was pushed away by the Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper, but set up Samuel later who scored his second Reading goal of the season.

The home side equalised just before half time after a good spell of pressure, and could have gone ahead after half time but Ali Al Habsi found himself in the right place at the right time. With an hour played Liam Kelly nearly scored with a long range effort that hit the crossbar and may have already crossed the line before Moore made sure to put Reading back ahead. Again, Reading's lead was short lived as another header found its way past Al-Habsi. However, the game was set for a dramatic finish as Reading increased the pressure and McCleary was again provider with a cross that saw Evans sidefoot home to make it 3-2 to the Royals. There was still time for some nervous moments but Reading hung on for the win.

Blackburn Rovers 3 Reading 2 - Match Opinion

Championship Table at: 19 December 2016
		Pl	HW	HD	HL	HF	HA	AW	AD	AL	AF	AA	GD	POINTS
1	Newcastle	22	7	0	3	23	11	9	1	2	22	6	+28	49
2	Brighton	22	8	2	1	22	6	6	4	1	13	8	+21	48
3	READING	22	7	3	1	17	8	5	1	5	13	21	+1	40
4	Huddersfield	22	7	1	2	14	9	5	2	5	12	17	0	39
5	Leeds	22	7	2	3	15	9	5	0	5	11	13	+4	38
6	Sheff Wed	22	8	0	3	16	11	3	4	4	10	12	+3	37
7	Derby	22	5	3	3	11	5	5	3	3	12	10	+8	36
8	Birmingham	22	6	3	3	18	15	3	4	3	9	14	-2	34

From the Discussion

PI PieEater 17 Dec 2016 · 6:56pm

It's always good to get a last minute winner but really this game could have gone either way. First half we started well and created some good opportunities and it looked like Blackburn were there for the taking. One great save from a McCleary shot, then some how we scored. A ball over the top to Samuel who took it wide and it looked to me like he'd hit the side netting and the adverts. Everyone else though the same as pretty well nobody celerbrated. The Blackburn video screen (pathetically) decided not to show the goal so I really dont know if it was a great shot or keeper error. Then Blackburn came back into to it, Emnes hit the… More →
IR Ian Royal 17 Dec 2016 · 7:02pm

Watching the highlights, it looked like a clever finish from Samuel that caught the keeper by surprise. Rather than firing across him at the inside of the far post as you'd expect, he seemed to shape that way, but actually went for the near post with a little bend round the keeper. At least that's the impression I got on a first view anyway. Somewhat lucky he fooled the keeper... I think it was quite saveable if he'd been wise to it.
LW Lower West 17 Dec 2016 · 9:03pm

Was behind you. :lol:
AR arthurfondrelli 17 Dec 2016 · 10:07pm

Good fun today. Agree it could have gone either way but I guess it's very promising that it's gone our way again. Al-Habsi - 6 - not too much to report here Gunter - 6 - again, pretty steady from Gunter. Good throw-in for the third goal Moore - 8 - oozes class. Good effort for his goal McShane - 6 - steady once again Blackett - 5 - looked a little shaky at times but still learning Evans - 8 - certainly an unsung hero of this team Van den Berg - 6 - put himself about but not too much effect Kelly - 8 - fantastic second half McCleary - 8 - our main outlet and looked dangerous Beerens - 6 - got a lot of the ball first half. Could have… More →
LW Lower West 18 Dec 2016 · 12:00am

The whole ground went dead quiet. Appeared if the ball had hit the side netting and rolled back from where I was watching. Even some of the Reading players looked surprised. Really enjoyable to see a team come together. Under a manager who wants to play a different style of football. Every so often there's glimpses of what's to come.
MH Mike Hunt 18 Dec 2016 · 8:11am

from the replay for Samuel's goal, the pass from G-Mac was sublime. It was a reverse pass, not over the top. Listening to Dellor and Gooding, Blackburn sounded like a one trick pony, and their only main outlet seemed to be from set pieces. Not sure if the same was saw at the ground?
LW Lower West 18 Dec 2016 · 9:33am

As was the case at Rotherham. Aerial assault is a weakness.
LW LWJ 18 Dec 2016 · 9:42am

I owe Kelly an apology after Leeds, showed why he deserved his starting place and really took control of the game. MOTM for me.
SU Sutekh 18 Dec 2016 · 11:21am

Oh no it isn't....
RO RoyalBlue 18 Dec 2016 · 1:20pm

Much as many like to make the 'useless - adds nothing' Gunter the scapegoat for all things bad, it didn't look like it was him on the post when they scored - the player looked much shorter and with darker hair, so maybe Kelly? Whoever, it was, didn't really do what they are put into that position to do and it did look like they lifted their leg up to let the ball under! BBC Berks commentary team were convinced that AAH had not saved the initial effort (they said that replays suggested the ball came off the post ; therefore it shouldn't have been a corner. However, you can be pretty sure that Jaap won't have been impressed with our… More →
LW Lower West 18 Dec 2016 · 2:40pm

Oh yes it is.

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