Paul Ince's side extended their unbeaten run to four games with a well deserved 2-1 victory over Stoke City this evening thanks to goals from Michael Morrison and Lucas Joao!
The first piece of action came from the home side as Junior Hoilett’s cross reached Ovie Ejaria at the back post however his effort was deflected wide with Tom McIntyre unable to keep his header on target from John Swift’s corner kick.
Building some early momentum, Andy Yiadom then played in Hoilett again down the right hand side but this time his cross was caught by Potters’ ‘keeper Jack Bonham.
The lively Hoilett then found Ejaria in the box, but the midfielder couldn’t quite get the ball out of his feet.
The visitors’ backline was being put under significant pressure and when Swift’s corner could only be cleared as far as Hoilett the Potters resistance was broken with Michael Morrison forcing Bonham into a good save before the rebound went in off the defender’s body!
Stoke responded to going behind by having their first shot of the match, however despite Jacob Brown making some good ground his long-range attempt was blocked on the edge of the box.
Yiadom won possession back and cut inside however the ball rebounded to Hoilett who looked for Joao in the box, but Bonham just beat the Angola international to the ball.
The hosts were knocking the ball around confidently with Yiadom doing well to keep the ball in play before finding Hoilett however his cross was cleared.
Swift then found himself in space and played a ball over the top to Joao, but the forward couldn’t quite get on the end of it.
Hoilett then drove at the visitors’ back line however he was unable to keep his shot on target as the ball sailed past Bonham’s right post. D’Margio Wright-Phillips then aimed a ball into the box for Josh Maja but Tom Holmes was there to clear.
However, with one minute of the half to go the Potters drew themselves level with a long range strike from Romaine Sawyers, with the substitute’s strike swerving in the air to beat Orjan Nyland.
In first half stoppage time Stoke attempted a breakaway with Brown dispossessing Ejaria however Drinkwater got back brilliantly to deny the Scotland forward when it appeared he was through on goal before Swift put in a strong block to deny another Sawyers shot from range.
Half time: Reading 1-1 Stoke City
Ince’s side began the second as they did the first with Josh Laurent forcing Bonham into a save in the opening 40 seconds with an effort from the outside of his boot.
Whilst at the other end, Brown found Sawyers but his attempted chip towards Wilmot however the defender couldn’t keep the ball in play.
Sawyer passed to Brown but despite cutting inside the Potters’ top goalscorer's shot went comfortably wide of Nyland’s goal.
Drinkwater picked out Yiadom, but the full back’s cross was deflected towards Bonham in an end-to-end start to the half.
Joao then ran at the visitors' backline however his effort was charged down before Wilmot fired wide after being played in by Maja at the other end. The game was in the balance.
Hoilett won a free kick on the far side with Swift finding the Canada international on the edge of the box and Bonham palming the effort away for a corner.
But from the resulting corner the Royals retook the lead when Swift’s inswinging delivery met the head of Joao whose downward header cannoned off the body of Taylor Haywood-Bellis on its way into the back of the net!
The side from Staffordshire went in search of an equaliser with Sawyers forcing a great save from Nyland before Josh Tymon’s cross set up Tyrese Campbell but the substitute dragged his effort wide of the post.
Femi Azeez was unfortunate to not cut the ball back to a blue and white shirt, Joao waiting in the middle to finish but the substitute missing his kick as he looked to play him in.
The Royals were defending deeper and deeper and had a massive let off when Campbell picked out Brown on the edge of the six-yard box, but he blazed over with the goal at his mercy.
Wilmot fired another effort wide before Holmes flung himself in front of a Baker effort as City pressed for an equaliser.
But the Royals back line was holding firm as Stoke pushed hard and some excellent work from Tom Dele-Bashiru got the ball into the Potters half to relieve some pressure.
With the ball in the corner Joao beat two Stoke defenders and found Dele-Bashiru, and in the fourth minute of injury time he arrowed just over the bar with what proved to be the last kick of the action.
Back to back home wins!
Full time: Reading 2–1 Stoke City
Reading: Nyland, Yiadom, McIntyre, Morrison (c), Holmes, Drinkwater, Laurent, Swift (Dann 87’), Ejaria (Dele-Bashiru (64’), Hoilett (Azeez 64’), Joao.
Unused subs: Southwood, Rahman, Thomas, Barker.
Yellow Cards: Ejaria 30’
Goals: Morrison 13’, Joao 63’
Stoke City: Bonham, Wilmot, Harwood-Bellis, Jagielka. Tymon, Thompson (Sawyers 32’), Allen (c) Baker, Brown, Maja (Fletcher 71’), Wright-Philips (Campbell 57’)
Unused Subs: Bursik, Chester, Clucas, Vrancic.
Yellow Cards: Tymon 62’, Harwood-Bellis 71’, Wilmot 90+1'
Goals: Sawyers 44’
Att: 9,928