Wednesday win as Reading slump continues
Posted Sunday, September 02, 2018 by PA
Reading remain winless in the Championship after six matches this season following a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Madejski Stadium.
Wednesday dominated much of the first half and went ahead early on when midfielder Adam Reach finished off an excellent team move.
They increased their lead just 15 seconds after half time when Lucas Joao drove in his third goal in two games.
Although Reading did reduce the gap in the 64th minute, through a Liam Moore header, Wednesday held on relatively comfortably.
Reading had lost their opening three matches of the season but had improved in their previous two games to secure draws at Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa.
Wednesday had won their past two outings, with 2-1 home victories against Millwall and Ipswich.
Both sides went out of the Carabao Cup second round in midweek, losing 2-0 at home to Premier League sides Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively.
Reading began brightly only for Yakou Meite to blaze over the crossbar after he had created the space for a 20-yard shot.
Wednesday replied when Joao took advantage of a Chris Gunter error and tested Vito Mannone with a long-range drive, which the home goalkeeper tipped over.
It was a sign of Wednesday’s early enterprise and they were rewarded for that when they went ahead in the 12th minute.
Intricate approach play around the Reading area ended with Reach guiding home a left-footed effort from just inside the box.
Reading responded positively, with Meite missing out on a goal chance when showing poor control from a Gunter cross.
Sam Baldock was guilty of the same after Andy Yiadom had lobbed a high ball over the out-of-position Wednesday defenders.
On the half-hour mark, Reading should have equalised.
Leandro Bacuna slung over a corner from the right but David Meyler, rising unmarked, could only glance a header narrowly past the far post.
Mo Barrow should also have done better when wriggling through the Wednesday cover. But he delayed his attempt too long and allowed keeper Cameron Dawson to make a smothering save.
Reading left the pitch at half-time to a few boos from their disgruntled fans.
And there was more jeering when Wednesday increased their lead just 15 seconds into the second period.
Joao ran in unchallenged from the left and curled in an elegant effort past the despairing dive of Mannone.
The teams then traded punches, with Dawson saving a Bacuna free kick and Mannone keeping out a fierce attempt from Atdhe Nuhiu.
But Dawson was powerless to prevent Reading from cutting the deficit when home skipper Moore nodded home from Bacuna’s corner.
Reading rallied towards the end but Wednesday held on resolutely for a third successive league victory.
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