Mac pulls a cracker

TOM MCINTYRE’S first senior goal helped Reading return to winning ways.

The Royals defender, who came through the club’s academy, opened the scoring, as Veljko Paunovic’s men moved back into the play-off spots.

McIntyre, 22, has been at the club since he was eight and Paunovic knew the importance of the goal.

The Reading boss said: “It was a beautiful goal, it was very well executed and I’m so happy for him.

“I know how long he’s been at the club, practically since a child, and he’s been waiting a long time for his opportunity. I think it was a very important win.”

The Royals had the perfect start after just nine minutes when McIntyre (above, celebrating) volleyed home from a Sone Aluko corner.

That looked to be the only incident of note of the half until the hosts doubled the lead on 42 minutes.

Alfa Semedo played a one-two with Sam Baldock before the midfielder slotted past keeper James Shea for his first goal in Reading colours. Luton improved after the restart and showed menace through a Luke Berry header on 69 minutes that went in the arms of Rafael Cabral.

The Hatters got a deserved goal just before injury time when a 30-yard shot from Kazenga LuaLua flew home.

However, it was not enough to earn a point and boss Nathan Jones said: “We should be better – we gave the ball away cheaply, we let people run off.

“But we had enough of the game to have scored two goals, we just have to show a little bit more quality.”