By Isaac Farnworth –
Reading eased to a fourth straight league win over struggling Burton Albion to move into third place in the Championship table.
First half goals from Dominic Samuel and Danny Williams as well as a John Brayford own goal via a deflected Yakou Meite strike sealed the win for Jaap Stam’s men who have now won four straight league games.
Burton were the first to threaten when Jackson Irvine put a looping header over the bar early on just before Reading’s Championship debutant Samuel hit the side netting after being threaded through by Chris Gunter.
Striker Chris O’Grady then had his header for Burton cleared off the line by a well-positioned Danny Williams who later played the ball forward for Garath McCleary who cut inside but his shot was skewed high and wide of the target.
Reading continued to press and broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Roy Beerens drilled in a low cross, which was met by a stretching Samuel at the far post who turned it in to put Reading in front.
Shortly after, Burton had a penalty appeal for handball turned down by referee Keith Stroud when O’Grady had his shot blocked. O’Grady also had a looping header effort saved by Al-Habsi before Jordan Obita was released down the left flank by McCleary and Obita’s cross was perfect for the onrushing Williams who smashed the ball into the roof of the net to double Reading’s advantage.
O’Grady then had a great opportunity to pull one back for the hosts when Dyer’s dangerous cross fell to the Burton striker who could not get a shot away following pressure from Moore, Blackett and Al-Habsi. Reading continued to threaten a third before half time when McShane had his header cleared off the line and Obita’s powerful cross was turned behind for a corner.
Early in the second period Reading’s McCleary missed two good chances following balls in from Obita and a neat drawback from Samuel from which he was unable to find the target.
O’Grady snatched at a volley, putting it over the bar Burton substitute Will Miller fired a shot at Al-Habsi from 20 yards which the Reading keeper saved smartly.
Reading substitute Yakou Meite outpaced and outmuscled Burton defender Ben Turner before cutting in and firing a shot towards goal which defender Brayford could only deflect into his own net to make it 3-0.
Miller had a volley put just wide towards the death but Reading held on for a fourth league clean sheet and a fourth league win in a row.
READING: Al-Habsi; Gunter, McShane (c), Moore, Blackett, Obita; Williams, Evans, Beerens (Kelly 86); McCleary (Mendes 76), Samuel (Meite 67).
Subs not used: S. Moore, Watson, Gravenberch, Harriott.
Goals: Samuel (22), Williams (29), Brayford (OG) (77)
Yellow cards: Samuel (63), McCleary (64), McShane (90+4)
BURTON: McLaughlin; Akins, Brayford, Mousinho (c), Turner (Flanagan 80), Dyer; Williamson (Naylor 70), Irvine, Palmer; Beavon, O’Grady (Miller 67).
Subs not used: Bywater, Barker, Choudhury, Harness.
Yellow card: Turner (44)
Referee: Keith Stroud
Attendance: 15,545
