Canaries flying high with win at Royals

TEN-MAN Norwich extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with a hard-fought 2-1 win at struggling Reading.

James Maddison gave Norwich an early lead from an excellent free-kick, but Reading equalised soon after when centre-back Liam Moore headed home.

Cameron Jerome secured all three points when nodding in unchallenged in the 52nd minute.

However, spoiling their night, substitute Marley Watkins was sent off in added time for a wild challenge on Chris Gunter.

Norwich had recovered from a slow start to the season and went into the fixture undefeated in six matches in all competitions.

They have also progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, in which they travel to Arsenal.

Reading had failed to win in their previous five league and cup games and it was Norwich who made the livelier start, which led to them going ahead in the 10th minute.

Joey van den Berg clumsily fouled Maddison 25 yards out and the Norwich man responded by curling a superb free-kick past helpless home goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

Maddison had scored the winner from similar range in Norwich’s 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

But, after Sone Aluko had driven high and wide at the other end, Reading drew level in the 13th minute.

Aluko slung over a free-kick from the right and Moore guided in a precise far-post header past keeper Angus Gunn.

It was the first league goal Norwich had conceded in 481 minutes and the first Reading had scored in the first half of a league game this season.

Reading could have gone ahead when Garath McCleary shrugged off the attentions of left-back James Husband.

A clearly unbalanced McCleary lobbed the ball over the onrushing Gunn, but his attempt trickled wide of the empty net.

Norwich regained their lead seven minutes into the second half when Maddison drifted over a corner.

Jerome ghosted in unmarked at the far post and stooped to nod in past the exposed Mannone.