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READING remain without a point at Madejski Stadium this season after slumping to a 2-1 defeat against Norwich this evening.
The Royals looked to have rescued a point when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson equalised with 18 minutes to play after Teemu Pukki’s first half opener.
But less than 60 seconds later the Canaries were back in front after more slack defending from the hosts allowed Mario Vrancic to score what proved to be the winning goal.
Defeat, Reading’s fourth straight home league loss this campaign, leaves them 22nd in the Championship relegation zone on five points from eight games.
For the first time all season Paul Clement named an unchanged starting 11 following the weekend win over Preston. New signing Saeid Ezatolahi was named among the substitutes.
But it was Norwich who created the first chance of note when Christoph Zimmermann found space to meet a free-kick, but he headed off target.
Emi Buendia was the next to try his luck, firing straight at Sam Walker.
And the early pressure told when the deadlock was broken on 14 minutes. Liam Moore was outmuscled, allowing Todd Cantwell to break forwards and the winger slid the ball beyond Chris Gunter and into the path of Pukki, who coolly guided his shot into the bottom corner from just outside the box.
At the other end Sone Aluko fired into the side netting while Yakou Meite’s fierce drive was parried over by Tim Krul towards the end of a fairly uneventful first half.
Buendia was denied by a brave Moore block shortly after the restart before Reading began to threaten with Andy Yiadom firing off target before substitute Mo Barrow teed up Sam Baldock, but he delayed in the box.
Alex Tettey headed over at the other end while John Swift bobbled an effort wide before the Royals did carve out an equaliser.
John Swift delivered a ccross which was met by Moore, and Bodvarsson was on hand to poke home from two yards after the ball had rebounded back off the post.
But any joy was short-lived as the visitors immediately got back in front. A low cross from the left was only cleared as far as substitute Vrancic, who composed himself before guiding his shot into the bottom corner.
Reading offered very little in the closing stages with a vital interception from Yiadom and a smart Walker stop helping to keep the score down.
READING: Walker; Gunter, Ilori, Moore (c), Yiadom; Bacuna;
Aluko (Sims 65), Kelly (Bodvarsson 68); Swift, Meite (Barrow 59); Baldock.
Subs not used: Jaakkola, O’Shea, Ezatolahi, McNulty.
Goal: Bodvarsson (72)
Yellow cards: Meite (27), Gunter (54)
NORWICH: Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann, Klose, Lewis; Tettey
(c), Leitner (Trybull 76); Buendia (Vrancic 68), Stiepermann (Rhodes 86),
Cantwell; Pukki.
Subs not used: Oxborough, Godfrey, Passlack, Srbeny.
Goals: Pukki (14), Vrancic (73)
Yellow cards: Vrancic (76), Aarons (81)
Referee: Tim Robinson
Attendance: 12,822 (including 919 away)
