The Royals open their home campaign...
Paul Ince's side earned their first three points of 2022-23 as the Royals came from behind to beat Cardiff City at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The first action actually came in the hosts' box when Cardiff City striker Max Watters ball across the box was well intercepted by the alert skipper Andy Yiadom.
The visitors then won a free kick out on the far side which was taken by Bluebirds captain Ryan Wintle. His ball across goal produced the first goal of the match as Republic of Ireland international Callum O’Dowda headed it into the net.
Joe Lumley’s long kick up field almost fell into the path of Tom Ince but Cedric Kipre just beat the midfielder to the ball and earn the hosts a throw in.
Some clever work by the Royals midfield on the edge of the box worked some space for former Bluebird Junior Hoilett to put in a cross that fell just short of it’s intended target Jeff Hendrick.
The visitors then hit on the counter with Lumley getting down well to deny O’Dowda his second goal of the game.
Nesta Guinness-Walker then ran down the far side and won a free kick with Hoilett almost troubling Ryan Allsop’s goal with a curling effort.
Ince’s run through the middle was cut short by an illegal challenge by Kipre, before he picked out Yiadom who flicked the ball onto Tom McIntyre who was in an offside position.
The lively Ince was then put through on goal but after rounding Allsop he was brought down by Curtis Nelson with referee Darren England pointing to the spot.
And eleven years to the day since his last Royals start, Shane Long marked his competitive home return by bringing us back level from the spot.
The Royals looked to build on the goal with Ince’s free kick just alluding the onrushing McIntyre and Long at the back post.
Cardiff’s response to the equaliser saw Sheyi Ojo pick up the ball in the middle of the pitch, but he fired his long range effort over the bar.
Yiadom then whipped in a fierce ball across the six-yard box with the sliding Guinness-Walker unlucky to see his effort go over the bar.
Hendrick then set up the left back on the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked before Ince fired the rebound over.
The Newcastle United loanee then attempted a volley on the turn as the clock ticked into injury time as Paul Ince’s side ended the half on top.
Half time: Reading 1-1 Cardiff City
The first action of the second half saw the Royals win a corner after Hoilett’s cross was headed behind by Nelson however the Canadian international’s set piece was subsequently cleared by the Cardiff backline.
At the other end Ojo put a ball in towards the six-yard box but a careful flicked header by Tom Holmes diverted the ball away from a pouncing pink shirt.
Romaine Sawyers’ attempted cross was stopped by the diving Lumley before McIntyre won a free kick when Bluebirds substitute Mark Harris fouled the defender as he went to clear the ball.
A foul on Ovie Ejaria earned the hosts a free kick with Ince’s ball headed into the path of Yiadom by Holmes with his effort somehow blocked with the ball poked away just before Holmes could make contact.
And moments later Ince got the goal his performance deserved when he received the ball from Ejaria on the edge of the D and fired it into the top corner, giving Allsop no chance, to give the Royals the lead!
Ojo then attempted to curl an effort into the far corner from the 18-yard line but his effort didn’t trouble Lumley.
The visitors looked to get back on level terms and wasted a good chance when Harris headed over from a cross put in by fellow substitute Tom Sang.
Long was then withdrawn to a standing ovation for young forward Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan to make his league debut for the club, having previously featured in last season’s League Cup tie with Cardiff’s rivals Swansea City.
Fellow youngster Kelvin Abrefa, also off the bench, did well to beat his man and put in a cross that found Hoilett, however he couldn’t quite make the desired contact.
Cardiff resorted to putting high balls into the box but Lumley was equal to their efforts with some commanding goalkeeping to come out and claim the ball.
However, despite the late pressure from the visitors, Paul Ince’s side more that held their own to secure our first points of the campaign thanks to goals from Shane Long and Tom Ince!
Full time: Reading 2-1 Cardiff City
Reading: Lumley (GK), Yiadom (C), McIntyre, Holmes, Guinness-Walker, Hoilett (John Clarke 90+5’), Fornah, Hendrick, Ejaria (Abrefa 65’), Ince, Long (Ehibhatiomhan 81’).
Unused Subs: Bouzanis (GK) Holzman, Leavy, Tuma.
Yellow Cards: Hoilett (20’), Abrefa (86’), Yiadom (90’).
Scorers: Long (27’ pen), Ince (63’).
Cardiff City: Allsop (GK), Romeo (Philogene 73’), Nelson, Kipre, Collins, Wintle (C), Rinomhota (Ralls HT). Ojo (Etete 73’). Sawyers- (Sang 73’), O’Dowda, Watters (Harris 52’).
Unused Subs: Alnwick (GK), Denham.
Yellow Cards: Nelson (26’), Collins (65’), Harris (90’).
Scorers: O’Dowda (4’).
