Derby’s promotion hopes take another blow with draw at Reading
Posted Sunday, February 25, 2018 by PA
Derby’s Championship promotion push suffered a setback when they were held to a 3-3 draw at lowly Reading.
In a hectic first half, Kasey Palmer gave Derby the lead early on only for Reading to forge ahead with goals from Liam Kelly and Mo Barrow.
Captain Richard Keogh equalised 10 minutes before the interval and Tom Lawrence fired Derby 3-2 in front just seconds after the break.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson made it 3-3 in the 80th minute and Derby lost defender Chris Baird, a former Reading loanee, to a straight red card five minutes later for a scything challenge on Barrow.
Derby had lost only once in 14 matches, but had won only one of their past six games and not won in their last three.
Reading had won only once in 12 outings and had failed to win at home since late November, losing their last four in a row.
It was Reading who made the more positive start, with Liam Moore having a shot blocked and a volley saved by goalkeeper Scott Carson.
Derby were quick to respond and were rewarded in the sixth minute from their first attack.
Home goalkeeper Vito Mannone palmed away a low cross-shot from Lawrence and Palmer was on hand to tuck away a first-time effort.
It was Palmer who had rescued Derby with a 92nd-minute equaliser in the 2-2 home draw with Leeds on Wednesday.
Ten minutes later, Reading were level. Kelly picked up the ball 30 yards out and unleashed a fierce drive that Carson got a hand to but could not keep out.
Reading then went ahead in the 32nd minute, when Barrow raced through alone and easily beat Carson for his eighth goal of the season.
However, in a frantic see-saw contest, their lead lasted only three minutes.
Curtis Davies’ headed flick was latched on to by Keogh, who had time and space to slot home from close range.
Within seconds of the start of the second half, Derby were in front again.
Lawrence cut in from the left and was allowed a free run by the home defence before guiding his shot past Mannone.
Reading responded swiftly, with Carson forced to tip over another long-range attempt by Kelly.
But Derby were soon on the attack again, with Jerome twice going close.
Mannone made a flying save to keep out his first effort, then Jerome nodded against the crossbar when left unmarked at the far post.
But Reading hit back to equalise 10 minutes from the end, when Bodvarsson turned in Barrow’s low cross at the second attempt.
Derby’s dismay was then compounded when Baird was sent off for poor tackle on Barrow.
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