LAURENT LEAVES IT LATE AS ROYALS PICK UP IMPORTANT POINT

JOSH LAURENT bagged a crucial late goal to give Reading a point against relegation rivals Barnsley.

The Royals went a goal down after just five minutes after Lucas Joao was denied a shout for an early penalty and they were punished moments later by Carlton Morris.

After a frustrating afternoon, the tension in the away end turned to triumph When Laurent netted in the 82nd minute.

Reading made a bright start after Lucas Joao was tripped in the box and wanted a penalty that the referee was never interested in awarding with a big decision going against the Royals shortly after kick-off.

But the positive start didn’t last long and quickly turned to disaster just five minutes in when the

Royals conceded yet another early goal.

Carlton Morris was afforded far too much time to swivel and strike a shot low past Nyland to score with The Tykes’ first attack of the game.

A frustrating half came to a close with Reading producing far too little in the final third to trouble the hosts and went in a goal down. .

Reading did have the ball in the back of the Barnsley net after Ince was slipped through by Ovie Ejaria but the linesman’s offside flag was raised well before Ince’s shot crossed the line.

The Royals threw all they had at a tired Barnsley team with 15 minutes left on the clock but lacked any real quality to open up the hosts’ defence.

Paul Ince opted to make his first change in the 78th minute as Tom Dele-Bashiru replaced Ejaria.

The Tykes’ defenders put their bodies on the line to prevent an equaliser when Callum Brittain blocked Joao’s effort on goal.

With eight minutes to go, Reading’s persistence paid off to send the away end into jubilation when Josh Laurent crashed a shot into the back of the net, with his second goal in as many games.

Reading looked to snatch a winner having got level and came close when Swift bent a shot towards goal that was tipped behind for a corner by Brad Collins.

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