SORRY JOEY HEADS FOR THE TUNNEL
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: READING defender Joey van den Berg scored an own goal and was sent off in the draw with unbeaten Brighton.
The home side went in front after only two minutes. John Swift’s inswinging free-kick evaded everyone in a packed penalty area and goalkeeper David Stockdale was helpless as the ball flashed past him and into the net.
Brighton were back on level terms in the eighth minute. Van den Berg, under pressure from Glenn Murray, nodded the ball into his own net from a corner. Reading’s players complained that Murray had shoved Van den Berg but referee Mike Jones allowed the goal.
Brighton continued to dominate but were struggling to find a way through the resolute home defence. And Reading almost regained their lead on the half-hour when Yann Kermorgant’s close-range effort was hacked LEEDS: away by Lewis Dunk. Kermorgant drove wide when well positioned soon after.
As Reading upped the tempo before half-time, Swift was denied by a superb tackle from Liam Rosenior as he tried to convert Chris Gunter’s near-post cross.
Brighton weathered the storm and struck again just one minute into the second period, Anthony Knockaert timing his run into the area to perfection and firing in a low shot.
Reading responded swiftly as Kermorgant rose above the Brighton defence and powered his header against the bar. And they equalised in the 59th minute, Paul McShane turning at the near post before scoring a firm effort.
Stockdale made a superb save from Kermorgant’s spectacular overhead kick then Van den Berg saw red in the 90th minute for bringing down Tomer Hemed – his second bookable offence.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton said of Knockaert: “He was on top of his game today but Reading were better than us.”
Reading boss Jaap Stamm, the former Manchester United defender said: “In terms of energy and creating chances, we did very well.” Ipswich v Norwich (12noon, SS2) Hapoel (2) v Celtic (5) (BT Sport 2) ........... L Warsaw (2) v Dundalk (0) (BT Sport 3)... Monaco (2) v Villarreal (1) .......................... Plzen (0) v Ludogorets (2).......................... Roma (1) v Porto (1) .................................. Blackburn v Crewe, Burton Albion v Liverpool, Chelsea v Bristol Rovers, Crystal P v Blackpool (7.30pm), Derby v Carlisle, Everton v Yeovil, Exeter v Hull, Luton v Leeds, Millwall v Nottm Forest, Newcastle v Cheltenham, Northampton v West Brom, Norwich v Coventry, Oxford Utd v Brighton, Peterborough v Swansea, QPR v Rochdale, Reading v MK Dons (8pm), Scunthorpe v Bristol City, Stevenage v Stoke, Watford v Gillingham, Wolve’s v Cambridge Utd. Apoel Nicosia (0) v FC Copenhagen (1) .... Borussia M’gladbach (3) v Young Boys (1) FC Red Bull Salzburg (1) v D Zagreb (1)... Man City (5) v S Bucharest (0) (BT Sport 2) Rostov (1) v Ajax (1) .................................. Accrington Stanley v Burnley (SS1), Fulham v Middlesbrough, Morecambe v Bournemouth, Preston v Oldham, Sunderland v Shrewsbury. West Ham (1) v FC Astra Giurgiu (1) ........ Burton Albion v Derby (SS1) ......................
(KO 3pm unless stated) PREMIER LEAGUE LDLDDW ...........................Chelsea Burnley............................. WWDWWW WdWWDL............... Crystal Palace AFC Bournemouth ................ dWLWLL LDLWWD .......................... Everton Stoke..................................... DWLLLD DWWLWW ...............................Hull Man United ....................... WWLDWW
(5:30pm) WWDWWL ...................... Leicester Swansea .............................. LDLLWW WWWdDW ...................... Man City West Ham ............................. DWLLLD
(Playing Sunday, 4pm) DWWWWD............... Southampton Sunderland .......................... DDWDDL DLWWDL ........ Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool ..............................DWLLDW
(12:30pm) dLLDWD ............................ Watford Arsenal.................................WLWDdD WWLLLD ...................... West Brom Middlesbrough .....................LLWWDD
(Playing Sunday, 1:30pm) SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP DWWDWW....................... Barnsley Rotherham .............................DWdLLL LLDDdd .......................Birmingham Norwich ................................. LWLLLW LLLDWL ......................... Blackburn Fulham .................................LDLWWD WDWWWW ..................... Brentford Sheffield Wed ........................ LDLDdL WDWLWW ................... Bristol City Aston Villa ................................LLLLLL dDWDLW ................. Burton Albion Derby ................................ WWDWLW
(Playing Friday, 7:45pm) WdWDLW............................ Cardiff Reading .................................. LLDLLL LLDDLW .....................Huddersfield Wolverhampton.................... DWLLDD dLDWWL ............................ Ipswich Preston ............................... WWLDWL WDWWLW .................... Newcastle Brighton .............................. WWWDLd
(5:30pm) LLLDDW ........... Nottingham Forest Leeds ................................... LWDDLD WWWLWD ...........................Wigan QPR .......................................DdLLWL
SKY BET LEAGUE ONE WWWWLd ........................ Bradford Oldham ..................................dLDWLL WLLLDW .......................... Charlton Bolton................................... LLLDWW WLDWWW ..................Chesterfield Millwall ................................ WWLWDL WWWDdd........................ Coventry Northampton ........................ dDWDDd LLLLDL ...........Milton Keynes Dons Peterborough ..................... WLWLWW LWWLWW ....................... Port Vale Scunthorpe ....................... LWWWDW DWDDLW ........................Rochdale AFC Wimbledon.................... WWdLLL ddLDDL ...................... Sheff United Oxford United....................... WDWdLL LDLLLW ...................... Shrewsbury Gillingham ........................... WdDLWW WDLLLL ......................... Southend Fleetwood Town .................... dDDLLD LDLWWW......................... Swindon Bristol Rovers ...................... WLDdWL
(1:30pm) DWWLWd........................... Walsall Bury .......................................WLLDLd
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO DWdWWd.........Accrington Stanley Morecambe ............................ LDLDLD WWLLWD............................ Barnet Carlisle ................................. dLdWWD DWLLWD ....................... Blackpool Plymouth ............................... DDLLLW ddWDDD ...........Cambridge United Luton .................................. WLWWLW WWWWDW ................ Cheltenham Crewe ....................................LLLLWD dLLLLW ................... Crawley Town Notts County ..........................DLLWLd WWdLDW...................... Doncaster Yeovil .....................................LdWdDL dLDdLL ................................ Exeter Portsmouth .......................... WWLDdL WdLLLW........................... Grimsby Stevenage............................ LWdWDL WWWLLD...................... Hartlepool Newport County .....................LLDLWL WLWLLW ................. Leyton Orient Mansfield ............................ LLWWLW DdLLWD ......................... Wycombe Colchester........................... WWDDDL
LADBROKES SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP WWWWWW .......................... Celtic Aberdeen .............................. LLWLdW LLWWLL...........................Hamilton Ross County ...................... DDWWLW WLWDWL................. Inverness CT St Johnstone ..................... WWDWDW
Kilmarnock v Rangers (Friday 7:45pm), Motherwell v Dundee, Partick v Hearts
Crystal Palace, Leicester, Southampton, Blackburn, Burton Albion, Cardiff, Chesterfield, Coventry, Milton Keynes Dons, Port Vale, Rochdale, Southend, Swindon, Accrington Stanley, Barnet, Exeter, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Wycombe, Hamilton
Chelsea, Everton, Man City, West Brom, Bristol City, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Nottm Forest, Bradford, Sheff United, Walsall, Blackpool, Crawley Town, Celtic
Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Rotherham, Norwich, Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton, QPR, Bolton, Gillingham, Luton, Crewe, Yeovil, Mansfield, St Johnstone