SWIFTLY DOES IT: RO YALS GET PAST POSH
READING manager Veljko Paunović admitted a sense of ‘relief’ as the Royals produced three second-half goals to beat Peterborough United.
Championship top scorer John Swift produced more magic as he scored a sublime free-kick to open the scoring before a double from Tom Dele-Bashiru.
The Posh replied with a goal of their own in the 74th minute, but the Royals held on to earn a much needed three points.
“It was a relief today,” said Paunović.
“We have been punished severely in the last few games and it feels sometimes that everything goes against us. We needed to turn that wheel.
“We are turning that forward and that’s what we are chasing now.
“The first half was mature and solid, we played safe and were making progress towards the final third and their box.
“In the second half, we got the edge to push forward and the conviction to open the scoreboard.
“Once we scored, we knew there was a chance to score another and the team did well to be ruthless on the front foot.
Reading had the majority of early possession as Alen Halilović and George Pușcaș linked up well, but couldn’t conjure a meaningful attack.
It was the visitors who had the first presentable opportunity of the evening as they won a free-kick 25 yards from goal.
Jordan Clarke-Harris took aim but hit his shot straight into the Reading wall.
John Swift played a perfectly played cross field switch to find Andy Yiadom on the right-wing. He played the ball to Dele-Bashiru who spun into the box and got a shot away but Christy Pym collected comfortably.
The game went flat as neither side could forge out any decent chances, while Southwood was quick off his line to prevent a through ball causing any danger to his defence.
Despite having less of the ball, the Posh came closer to scoring than the hosts as Sikiri Dembele unleashed a testing effort that forced a smart save from Southwood who dived to his left to keep the score goalless.
Reading replied with a long ranged effort of their own as Halilović lined up a shot from 25 yards but a Peterborough body
managed to get in the way and divert it behind for a corner.
The Posh must have thought they had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time when Ollie Norburn hit a sweetly struck volley but Southwood pulled off a magnificent save at full stretch to tip the ball over the top.
The half ended with a yellow card for Peterborough’s Frankie Kent, while Royals skipper Liam Moore was forced off with injury and replaced by Tom Holmes.
Peterborough had the first halfchance after the break as Joel Ward tried a curling effort, but it sailed harmlessly wide.
Darren Ferguson’s side maintained their threat and almost found Clarke-Harris with a backheel through on goal, but Holmes made a vital interception to clear for a corner.
The game finally burst into life as Swift came to the rescue for the
Royals once again in the
64th minute.
With a free-kick lined up 25 yards from goal, the Reading midfielder hit a sumptuous strike that flashed past Pym into the top
corner to score his seventh Championship goal of the season.
With momentum now firmly on their side and the crowd brought into life, the Royals took advantage and struck a second goal quickly after.
Puscas’ ball across the box found Dele-Bashiru who composed himself before he drilled a shot into the bottom corner to net his first goal in Reading colours.
But the game wasn’t done as the Posh hit back with a reply in the 74th minute.
The Royals conceded from yet another set-piece as Peterborough captain Nathan Thompson nodded in at the back post.
Peterborough applied some pressure as they threw bodies forward, but to no avail as Reading won their second match of the season.
Reading are away to Fulham on Saturday (3pm kick-off).