ROYALS BEATEN BY BAGGIES AS HOME CAMPAIGN CONCLUDES
Reading FC were defeated in their final home Championship game of the campaign after
Karlan Grant netted late for West Bromwich Albion.
Having not been able to produce in attack, it looked as if the Royals may record a rare clean sheet but that was scuppered by Grant’s 78th minute goal which gave the Baggies the points.
The Royals’ safety was confirmed last weekend after what has been a tricky campaign on and off the pitch for the club.
Paul Ince made one change from the defeat at Hull City as Terell Thomas came in to make his debut for the club in the final home game of the season.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of youth on the bench with Rashawn Scott, Kelvin Abrefa, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Dejan Tetek all included in the matchday squad.
Steve Bruce made three changes to his side which saw Matty
Phillips selected to make his 200th appearance for the Baggies.
There wasn’t much for either side to play for after the Royals’ safety was secured last weekend, while West Brom are too far away to make a push for play-offs after their disappointing second-half to the season.
An even start to proceedings saw the Royals come forward in the sixth minute through Tom DeleBashiru before Ovie Ejaria put too much on his pass that tried to find the run of Lucas Joao.
The visitors had the first shot of the afternoon when Phillips got a sight of goal from 25 yards and flashed a low drive wide of Orjan Nyland’s post.
The Baggies came a couple of inches away from taking the lead in the 15th minute when they got plenty forward into the boss and Kyle Bartley connected from the cross with a looping header that had Nyland scrambling across his line, only to be saved by the post.
Josh Laurent was involved all over the pitch, often breaking forward with some positive drives, however his final ball was lacking with some stray passes.
The Royals came closest from a set-piece when Junior Hoilett’s inswinging corner was met by the leap of Michael Morrison and he glanced a header just wide of the far post.
Phillips picked up the first booking of the match for a late tackle on Baba Rahman.
Neither side were able to create any glaring chances to break the deadlock as Tom McIntyre threw
himself in the way of Phillips’ shot.
Reading looked most threatening from set pieces and had a couple of half chances that fell for Morrison before Thomas couldn’t keep the ball in at the far stick after he was left unmarked as half-time came with the score goalless.
Phillips’ cross caused a problem for Nyland who had to flap the ball over the bar to prevent it from sailing over his head and possibly into the top corner.
Hoilett was caught by a strong sliding tackle from Jayson Molumby that resulted his name being taken by the referee.
Danny Drinkwater was the first
Reading player to be cautioned when he cynically stopped a West Brom attack.
Ince made his first switch when he brought on Kelvin Abrefa in place of Thomas in the 64th minute.
Another chance came the way of Phillips but he leant back and skied Dara O’Shea’s cross.
Reading’s first meaningful effort of the half came after 77 minutes when the aftermath of a corner fell to Ejaria who blazed a half volley into the stands.
Just moments later, the Baggies broke down the other end and broke the deadlock with little over 10 minutes to go.
Callum Robinson fed Karlan Grant, who kept his composure in the box and tucked the ball into the bottom right corner past Nyland.
Brandon Barker and Yakou Meite replaced Dele-Bashiru and Ejaria to try and salvage a late goal with seven minutes remaining.
Robinson should have gift wrapped the three points when he was found with a cutback, but he hit a tame shot straight at Nyland.
But chances were few and far between in a game that was befitting of an end of the season affair with little riding on the result.
The Royals are on 41 points with one game left to play.