Josh has given ’em a right Royal chance
JOSH LAURENT’S late strike gave Reading a great shot at staying in the Championship – but it put Barnsley back on the ropes.
And even though the midfielder was the Royals hero for the second game running, after his late winner against Blackburn, his boss Paul Ince revealed: “He’s lucky.
“I was going to take him off – but I let him off the leash for the last 20 minutes and he goes and scores another crucial goal.
“We sensed our goal was going to happen when Barnsley dropped back and we dominated the second half.
“We should have taken all three points – but we’re thankful for the one.”
For Reading, Laurent, 26, certainly made his mark again, having scored that solo winner against Rovers in their last league outing.
That too came as time looked to be running out.
And it looked grim for Reading’s following of 1,500 travelling fans when Barnsley took an early lead through Carlton Morris. The
Tykes’ quick start followed a great move started by man-of-themoment Callum Styles, fresh back from his debut for Hungary against Serbia.
The defender, 22, raced forward with the ball before Morris unleashed a blast past keeper Orjan Nyland after just five minutes.
But as Reading piled on the pressure, the Royals’ 1,500 fans finally had something to shout about on 82 minutes as Morrison set up Laurent for the vital leveller.
Tykes’ boss Poya Asbaghi admitted: “We are disappointed. The gap between us and Reading remains the same – but we still have hope and it is not mission impossible.”
BARNSLEY: Collins 7; Brittain 7, Kitching 7, Andersen 7 (Adeboyejo 90th), Vita 6; Wolfe 7, Gomes 6; Styles 7 (Oduor (69th) 5), Quina 7, Bassi 7; Morris 8
READING: Nyland 7; Yiadom 6, Morrison 6, McIntyre 7, Holmes 6; Drinkwater 6 Ejaria 7 (Dele-Bashiru 78th), Ince 6, Laurent 8, Swift 7; Joao 6
STAR MAN: Josh Laurent
REF: D Webb