Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HAVE TO HAND IT TO SKY BLUES
Robins’ boys are flying high as late show inflicts first loss on the Royals
GRAHAM HILL
READING saw their unbeaten record ended at St Andrew’s as they were stunned by Coventry’s grandstand finish.
The Royals had been looking to go nine points clear at the top of the table.
But they fell behind to a first-half Gus Hamer strike and although Lucas Joao’s ninth goal of the season levelled it up – Mark Robins’ Sky Blues refused to roll over.
Matty Godden grabbed Coventry’s second before a spectacular drive from sub Sam Mccallum made it three.
Royals sub George Puscas pulled another goal back in stoppage-time, but it only proved to be a consolation.
Both sets of players paid tribute to England’s World Cup-winning hero Nobby Stiles before kick-off (below), and Reading looked threatening early on, with Alfa Semedo blazing over.
Coventry almost caught the Royals off-guard after 15 minutes when Godden put a header just over.
But Reading’s pace was alway s goin g to cause problems for the Sky Blues. And when the ball broke kindly for Joao, the Royals’ top-scorer looked certain to sc ore, but h esitat ed and allowed keeper Marko Marosi to block.
Coventry made them pay for that miss on 23 minutes when Godden laid the ball off for Hamer and the Dutch midfielder finished with a firm, low drive from 20 yards.
This was the first time Reading had been behind in a Championship game this season . A superbly-won header by defender Michael Rose denied Joao a scoring chance from close range.
But Reading levelled on 66 minutes when Joao won the ball 25 yards from goal and delivered a fierce drive into the bottom corner.
Max Biamou struck the f ra me of the goal for Coventry before they regained the lead with 14 mi n u t e s left, Godden
netting a rebound from sub Callum O’hare’s shot.
And a spectacular third goal from fellow sub Mccallum with five minutes to go made sure that the Sky Blues sealed victory.