Josh’s right man for Royals

JOSH LAURENT’S late strike gave Reading a right Royal chance of staying in the Championship – but it put Barnsley back on the ropes.

And even though Laurent was the Reading hero for the second game running, after his late winner against highflying Blackburn, boss Paul

Ince said: “He’s a lucky guy. I was going to take him off – but I let him off the leash for the last 20 minutes, and he goes and scores another crucial goal.”

Ince also revealed: “Josh told me he would score again at Barnsley – but he did tell me it would be with his head! We’ll let that go! We’re grateful for them all.” He admitted relief when Tom McIntyre blocked an almost point-blank, goal-bound shot in the last minute of added-on time, but he said: “We sensed our goal was going to happen when Barnsley dropped back and we dominated the second half. We should have all three points, but we’re thankful for the one.” Tykes’ boss Poya Asbaghi admitted: “We are disappointed. We are down there, and the gap between us and Reading remains the same, but we still have hope and it is not Mission Impossible for us.

“We cannot say we are in control and that everything is in our hands. It is not a good thing, but we will not give up.”

For Reading, 26-year-old Laurent made his mark again, having scored a solo winner against Blackburn in the their last outing. That too came as time was running out, and it looked grim for Reading when Barnsley took an early lead through Carlton Morris. BARNSLEY: Collins 7; Brittain 7, Kitching 7, Andersen 7 (Adeboyejo 90), Vita 6; Wolfe 7, Gomes 6; Styles 7 (Oduor 69, 5), Quina 7, Bassi 7; Morris 8 Subs not used: Walton, Benson, Leya Iseka, Moon, Palmer.

READING: Nyland 7; Yiadom 6, Morrison 6, McIntyre 7, Holmes 6; Drinkwater 6 Ejaria 7 (DeleBashiru 5), Ince 6, Laurent 8, Swift 7; Joao 6.

Subs not used: Southward, Thomas, Rahman, Dann, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Reading’s Josh Laurent hit the crucial late equaliser that could save Reading from the drop.

REFEREE: David Webb 7.