Reading see off Blues in dour clash - 7M sport

Reading see off Blues in dour clash



Posted Sunday, August 27, 2017 by PA

Reading striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson rescued the game from the doldrums with the opening goal to set up a 2-0 Championship success at Birmingham.

St. Andrew's is obviously a ground which appeals to Bodvarsson as he scored one of only three goals in his 42 Wolves appearances last season in the match at Birmingham.

Birmingham only surged back to life after the Iceland international notched his first goal for Reading on the hour, but they left themselves open for substitute George Evans to seal the game with an 85th-minute strike.

The result was a disappointment for manager Harry Redknapp, who is still busy restructuring his Birmingham side and drafted in another two newcomers in Carl Jenkinson and Sam Gallagher.

Unfortunately Jenkinson, on loan from Arsenal, sustained a wrist injury in the 31st minute and took no further part in the game.

Gallagher, another temporary recruit from Southampton, demonstrated his threat early in the game when he cleverly chested down a long pass from Michael Morrison only to see his shot on the turn blocked by Joey van den Berg.

Following a slow build-up, Reading posed the most danger when Tyler Blackett fired in a low shot through a packed defence only to see David Stockdale dive low to his left to push the ball away.

A dour stalemate remained goalless at half-time, with both teams lacking individual sparkle.

Gallagher lacked the service to shine while Reading were guilty of wasting a good opportunity to go ahead from an accurate Liam Kelly free-kick. Liam Moore out-jumped the unlucky Jenkinson but his misdirected header went wide of the far post.

Kelly had a wonderful chance two minutes into the second half. A low cross from Chris Gunter found the unmarked playmaker, who, with only Stockdale to beat, shot straight at the keeper.

The diminutive Kelly, always a livewire, then turned creator with a low cross from the left. The unmarked Modou Barrow bumbled his shot wide of an open goal in the 60th minute but Reading quickly made amends from their next attack. Blackett produced the cross from the left which Bodvarsson was on hand to head into the roof of the net.

Birmingham belatedly showed signs of life and Gallagher and David Davis had efforts blocked, but they were condemned to defeat as Evans was set up by Garath McCleary to make it 2-0 five minutes from time.

Tag:


Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.