LIVERMORE KEEPS BRUCE IN THE HUNT
JAKE LIVERMORE struck a dramatic winner as Hull came from behind to highlight their promotion credentials. The one-time England midfielder, who was reprieved from a recreational drugs ban by an FA commission in September, scored his first goal of the season to move Steve Bruce’s team to within two points of the Championship’s automatic places. Earlier in the second half, Abel Hernandez converted another parry from goalkeeper Jonathan Bond to cancel out Nick Blackman’s exquisite opener just shy of the half-hour. ‘Of course he’s had his issues but since he’s been back in the team we are better for it,’ said Bruce of Livermore, whose grief over losing a new-born son was taken into account after he tested positive for cocaine. ‘It’s been a long, tough road for him. He still seeks the help that he needs but the more he plays and the more he is in the environment, then hopefully he will keep improving.’ Hull deservedly trailed after Reading transferred the ball across the area via two backheels from Oliver Norwood and Matej Vydra, and Blackwood arrowed his shot across Allan McGregor and into the top corner for his first goal in nine league matches. Reading had already reshuffled their defence once when Hull’s £10million record signing Hernandez displayed the kind of predatory instincts expected for that kind of investment. And the visitors were down to 10 men — Chris Gunter was having a head wound dressed — when substitutes Robert Snodgrass and Shaun Maloney induced panic in the area and Livermore seized the moment. ‘That was a killer for us because we were trying to get the organisation right,’ said Reading, in the hands of caretaker boss Martin Kuhl, will today unveil Brian McDermott for his second spell in charge.