A STUNNING strike from Oliver Norwood saw Reading complete a second-half comeback and defeat Nottingham Forest at Madejski Stadium this evening.
There was a goal for Matej Vydra too, his first in the league in almost five months, when he stepped up to level matters on 68 minutes, cancelling out Ben Osborn’s opener for the away side late in the first half.
Securing back-to-back victories was just deserts for the hosts, but they probably should have won by more, yet a number of guilt edged chances, with Yann Kemorgant missing four of these, would go begging.
And because of this they would have to be patient against stubborn opposition looking to hit their hosts on the break, but would eventually secure three points which keeps them 13th in the Championship table.
The triumph also preserves Reading’s impressive home form in the league, with the side having not lost at Madejski since the 2-1 reverse against Brentford on December 28, a run stretching some eight games.
Brian McDermott made just the one change from the side which ran out 1-0 winners at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, and it would come up front.
Despite his public defence of the striker following his penalty miss during the same game, the manager dropped Matej Vydra to the bench, with his place alongside Yann Kermorgant going to Simon Cox, who was handed a rare league start against his former club.
And it was his previous employers who would carve out the opening chance of the game.
A cross whipped in from the right by Oliver Burke hung up to the back post, where Dexter Blaockstock did well among a clutch of bodies to hook the ball back, where Henri Lansbury was ready to pounce.
Ali Al-Habsi, however, had sensed the danger and rushed off his line to close the available angles and would thwart the midfielder from close range.
Apart from this, it was a rather tepid opening 10 minutes to the contest, although the hosts were soon setting the tone.
Royals were playing some neat stuff, some of the better seen this season, some might say, and were making gains down the flanks, in particular.
And through Jordan Obita, three quick-fire opportunities would fall the way of the home side – where only a goal line clearance from Matt Mills prevented Kermorgant from opening the scoring.
The Frenchman’s header looked destined for the bottom corner, but the former Reading defender recovered well to clear the threat.
Just moments later and another centre from the young full back found the same player.
Kermorgant’s header was again on target, but Forest ‘keeper Dorus De Vries did well to divert the effort away via a one-handed save.
Two more centres would cause panic in the Forest box, but the away side would eventually get the better of both situations.
From the other side, Cox was off target when meeting an inviting Gunter centre, but with his back to goal the chance was a difficult one to profit from.
Reading remained the more purposeful and further half-chances would fall to Danny Williams and Norwood, but both saw respective efforts charged down.
Paul McShane would also go close when attacking a corner, and was only just over when meeting a Norwood flag kick over on the left.
Up until now the visitors, apart from Lansbury’s earlier attempt, had offered very little going forward, yet Osborn would warn the opposition of his striking abilities when letting fly from some 25 yards midway through the half.
His arrowed effort looked to be heading for the top corner.
However, a full-stretched Al Habsi would pull off a smart save diving to his left and palm the ball out for a corner.
Osborn, though, would hit Reading with a sucker punch when popping up to nudge Forest ahead four minutes before the break.
It was a strike of simplicity – although the hosts were guilty of switching off as the guests broke forward in numbers.
Lansbury pulled McShane and Jake Cooper apart with a ball through the middle, where the winger had timed his run to perfection and would wait for Al Habsi to commit hmself before netting via a low effort.
Kermorgant would have another sight of goal before the break, but could only knock the ball wide when under pressure.
The same player would again go close early in the second half – with another header.
A deft Stephen Quinn touch allowed Gunter to set off down the right touchline, and his cross was on the money.
All Kermorgant need do was adjust himself accordingly, which he did, but in trying to find the bottom corner, his glancing header dropped just the wrong side of an upright.
He would go again with another header – his forth of the night – but he would once again cut a frustrated figure.
McDermott felt a change was now necessary, and would introduce both Ola John and Vydra from the bench – and it would have the desired affect.
For it was the former’s pull back which saw a Williams strike turned out for a corner by Danny Fox.
The set-piece was cleared, but only as far as Norwood, whose fierce drive was touched home via Vydra.
How much the Czech knew about it remains unclear, but not that he was complaining.
This was his first goal in the league since netting against the same opposition back in November and it deservedly pulled the home side back on level terms.
Forest argued the replacement was offside, but the referee nor his assistant over on the far side were having none of the protests.
Royals were now pressing for a winner, but were finding a route to goal difficult against dogged opposition set up to soak up everything thrown at them and hit the hosts on the break, although these were limited as Royals bossed proceedings.
It was looking likely, therefore, that something special would probably settle the contest, and in Norwood Reading have a player who can produce such special moments.
Forest had again dealt with the initial ball into the box, but the Northern Ireland international would steal in and win it back before sending it past De Vries with aplomb from some 20 yards, with the effort being helped home by a post.
As is expected in such situations, Forest would push men forward in attempt to try and snatch an equaliser.
And through vulnerabilities often witnessed at the back this season, they almost got one.
Cooper would cheaply conceded possession in a dangerous position, with the away side quick to pounce and work the ball out to Osborn, who had been involved in everything going forward for the visitors.
The late opportunity would come over on the left, but in striking with the outside of his boot could only send the ball wide of the far upright.
READING: Al Habsi, Gunter, McShane (c), Cooper, Obita, Norwood, Quinn, Williams, Cox (Vydra 61), Kermorgant, Piazon (John 61)
Subs not used: Bond, Taylor, Evans, Vydra, Hector, Ferdinand, John
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: De Vries, Jokic, Cohen, Wilson (Fox 32), Mills, Vaughan, Osborn, Lansbury (c) (Tesche 74), Gardner, Blackstock, Burke (Ward 68).
Subs not used: Macheda, Evitmov, O’Grady, Grant
Goal: Osborn 41
Booked: Gardner
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Attendance: 15,678 (826 away).
