READING 1 (Long 29)
BARNSLEY 0

BARNSLEY'S midweek revival stuttered to a disappointing halt as Reading snatched all three points at the Madejski Stadium.

The Reds made just the one change to his side as they looked to continue the good work from Tuesday night as his team lined up against Reading. Out went injured full back Rob Kozluk with Darren Moore returning to the starting eleven. The Royals had former Oakwell skipper Brian Howard on the bench. Reading manager Brian McDermott was also celebrating his first game as permanent Royals boss.

It may have been freezing cold in the Madejski Stadium but a travelling army of around 1,000 hardy souls made the trip from Oakwell and their voices heard from the first whistle.

The Reds were on the front foot from the opening exchanges and a fine through ball by Adam Hammill split the Reading defence inside three minutes and Iain Hume was only a foot away from latching on to it and racing clear.

Reading should have been in front on six minutes when Ryan Bertrand's corner was flicked across goal to give Ivar Ingimarsson a simple header at the back post but the giant defender got it all wrong and nodded wastefully over the top.

The home side were in again on nine minutes as a slip by Ryan Shotton gave Simon Church the chance to attack but the striker fired well, well wide of the mark from the edge of the area. It was a bright start by the home side.

The Reds were really struggling to get a foothold in the game as well as onto the ball although Hammill did his best to spark something on a wretched pitch on 18 minutes as he raced through and crossed the ball past Adam Federici but Ingimarsson was able to hack it clear. Hume

Shotton's nightmare start to the game continued on 19 minutes as his wayward header put Long clean through to face up Luke Steele but the Reds keeper was quickly out to make a fine stop.

Barnsley's attacks were less frequent but Hume lashed one well wide on 25 minutes. Hammill fired the ball back into the danger area but Macken then could not find a finish at the far post.

Reading grabbed a deserved lead just before the half hour mark when Steele made a complete mess of grabbing Andy Griffin's cross. The ball slipped from his grasp and was knocked back into the six yard box for Long to slam home.

The Reds were pedestrian and their play littered with simple errors. Anderson then presented Gylfi Sigurdsson the chance to shoot on 32 minutes with a poor clearance. Thankfully the ball deflected through to Steele.

Barnsley finally sprang into life again a minute later as Hammill broke in from the left hand side before curling one just over the angle of post and bar from 30 yards. Hume then had a shout for a penalty waved away on 39 minutes after going down under Ingimarsson's challenge in the area. Nothing was given.

Reading broke well and should have been further in front a minute later as the ball broke through to Jem Karacan but the young Turk lashed it wide from 16 yards.

There was a change at half time for the Reds as Macken made way for Daniel Bogdanovic and a change in impetus for the visitors as they looked to get back into the game. There was more desire and hunger in attack and Hugo Colace lashed a volley high over the top on 52 minutes after some sustained pressure on the Reading back line. Hume then crashed a 30-yard free kick over the bar three minutes later although Federici always had it covered.

Reading still held the advantage and Long brought a smart save from Steele on 59 minutes after breaking free on the edge of the area.

There was controversy on the hour as Gunnarsson needlessly went in with his studs showing on Colace. It was a very crude challenge and one that enraged the Reds but the Royals midfielder escaped a deserved red and was only cautioned. He should have walked.

It should have been two for Reading on 62 minutes as another uncharacteristic slip by Shotton let in Bertrand down the right. The full back fired over a great cross for Jobi McAnuff to tap in at that back stick and the winger beat Steele but his shot smacked against the far post and bounced clear.

Gunnarsson was a little lucky again on 72 minutes as he flew in on Steele as the pair went for Bertrand's corner. Steele was awarded a free kick before the Royals could turn the loose ball towards goal.

Anderson picked up a yellow card a minute later after leading with an elbow on Bertrand. It was the Brazilian's final action of the game as he made way seconds later for Emil Hallfredsson.

The Reds had another claim for a spot kick waved away on 79 minutes as Hammill was checked to the ground in the area in a challenge with Karacan. Unsurprisingly nothing was given as Hammill was handed a lecture from the referee.

Academy youngster Jamil Adam was given the opportunity to impress on 81 minutes as the youngster replaced Hammill. Former Red Howard was greeted by a crescendo of boos when he entered the field on 83 minutes. And that was the more polite response to his appearance from the bench from the Barnsley faithful.

Howard had the chance to wrap things up deep in stoppage time but his headline grabbing opportunity passed with a weak lob wide of Steele's post.

READING: Federici, Mills, Gunnarsson, Long, McAnuff, Ingimarsson, Church (Bignall 74), Karacan, Bertrand, Sigurdsson, Griffin.
Subs: Kebe, Hamer, Rasiak, Bignall, Howard, Thorvaldsson, Khizanishvilli.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Shotton, Moore, Foster, Dickinson, Anderson (Hallfredsson 74), Colace, Doyle, Hammill (Adam 81), Macken (Bogdanovic 45), Hume.
Subs: Preece, Gray, Butterfield, Potter.

REFEREE
James Linington (Isle of White)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Carl Berry (Surrey) and Gary Evetts (Hertfordshire)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Michael Rowley (Berkshire)

Attendance - 15,580
Away - 591

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