SOL ADDS HIS SHINE

Brace helps to topple Royals

JUST HEAVENLY Dominic Solanke hails Bournemouth’s fourth against Reading (right)

DOMINIC SOLANKE knocked his home-town club off the top as Reading blew a two-goal lead and fell to a fourth consecutive defeat.

England one- cap wonder Solanke sunk to the occasion too often when Bournemouth were relegated last season.

But with strike partner Josh King ruled out by a positive Covid-19 test, the Reading- born forward stepped up with a couple of goals in an astonishing second-half fightback.

It left Cherries boss Jason Tindall purring – and Royals counterpart Veljko Paunovic seething.

Paunovic raged: “In the first half our game plan worked to perfection – but the second half, to be honest, was unacceptable.

“We didn’t have the same focus and, basically, we thought we had won.”

Reading have shipped 13 goals in four games and Paunovic added: “We have issues in our defensive performance but we have to find out where the leaks are coming from – and we have to fix them.”

Tindall admitted: “It would not be right for me to share what was said at half- time, but I wasn’t happy with what I saw.

“But we responded in the right way and played with more intent and more purpose, and we showed everybody what we are about.”

Stalled after their runaway start, this was R e a d i n g ’s chance to prove it was a blip, not terminal decline. They blew it.

Yet for 45 minutes they were in complete control after Lucas Joao’s early penalty.

Alfa Semedo’s mazy run into the six-yard box, aided by some feeble challenges, was only brought to a halt by Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic, and Joao buried his 10th goal of the season from the spot.

Bournemouth’s response was spirited but Reading absorbed it. And two minutes before the break, Paunovic’s contain- anddestroy game plan yielded more dividends.

Ovie Ejaria picked out Sone Aluko, who finished smartly past Begovic.

Aluko’s first goal for Reading since January 2019 should have left them sitting pretty at the top, but the Royals’ advantage was wiped out by two goals in three minutes.

First Lloyd Kelly’s wicked cross was bundled in by Solanke, and just before the hour David Brooks’ exquisite pass put Arnaut Danjuma in to beat Rafael at his near post.

Lewis Cook’s 25-yarder put the home side in front, and Reading goalkeeper Rafael’s howler gifted Solanke his second.