Reading 2 Fulham 2
HAL ROBSON-KANU scored twice and then limped off injured as Reading were held by struggling Fulham at Madejski Stadium this afternoon.
The Welshman cancelled out Moussa Dembele’s early opener for the away side from the penalty spot and then nodded Royals in front just before the break, but did not come back out for the second half and was replaced by Garath McCleary after suffering an Achilles problem.
Ross McCormack would also draw the Cottagers back level from the spot after the interval following a Jake Cooper foul on Ryan Fredericks in the box.
Both sides had chances to win the game, but the majority of those in the 17,000-plus crowd will no doubt have gone home feeling this was very much two points dropped, with the stalemate denying the hosts a third successive win in the Championship.
Reading do move up a place to 11th in the standings, however, where they sit 11 points off the play-off places with 12 games remaining.
Boss Brian McDermott was forced into a change from the side which started the 4-3 victory at Charlton Athletic the weekend before, with Paul McShane picking up a calf injury and having to miss out.
Replacing the captain in defence was Anton Ferdinand, with the skipper’s armband going to Chris Gunter.
But Ferdinand and co would find themselves under some early pressure as Fulham, who have struggled on the road this season, started positively, with Ross McCormack seeing a drive at goal blocked.
It was the same player who would play a part too in the build-up to the move which led to Fulham breaking the deadlock on eight minutes.
Royals were sluggish to start with, non more so then when losing possession in the middle of the park, where Tom Cairney would send McCormack racing away down the left.
The striker was unselfish in trying to cut the ball back, but the pass was intercepted and cleared from a corner.
Swinging over the flag kick was McCormack, who would watch on as Michael Madel flicked the ball into the path of Dembele, who found himself unmarked some six yards out.
Although getting a hand to the strike, Ali Al Habsi in the Reading goal was unable to keep the Frenchman’s strike out, with the ball squeezing inside the far post.
Reading were lacking a spark, although falling behind did appear to inject some incentive within the side, with the hosts winning two corners in quick succession.
Neither would yield any sort of reward, but a third whipped over by Oliver Norwood from the left would result in some confusion within the Fulham box.
In attempting to collect the set-piece, ‘keeper Andy Lonergan could only knock the ball behind him. Yann Kermorgant was among those trying to capitalise, but it was the guests who won this particular contest and the danger was soon averted.
With Jamie O’Hara and Cairney pulling the strings in midfield, Fulham remained a threat going forward – and it was a strike by the latter which soon had the London side screaming for a penalty.
This is because Al Habsi was unable to hold the strike, from distance, with Madl looking to pounce on the rebound.
The on-loan defender, however, was thwarted by a Kermorgant tackle.
Madl led the arguments for a spot kick, but referee Simon Hooper deemed the challenge a fair one and off up the other end went the opposition.
This counter, though, was ended illegally around the half-way mark by Ryan Fredericks, who scythed down Stephen Quinn and promptly picked up a booking for the foul.
The free-kick would prove pivotal, as it was to start a phase of play which saw the hosts awarded the opportunity to draw themselves level from the penalty spot.
Robson-Kanu was the man to go down when felled by a by Fernando Amorebieta challenge close to the byline.
It was the same player who dusted himself down and, in the absence of the injured Matej Vydra, took responsibility from 12 yards – and would make it 1-1 with a confident finish.
Jake Cooper, with a header, and Fulham’s Cairney traded missed chances before McCormack once again had Al Habsi in a moment of panic.
Putting the ball down some 40 yards out for a free-kick, the former Leeds United forward saw his powerful drive kept out by the Omani – named Royals’ player of the month for February prior to kick-off – but he was again unable to keep hold of it.
Fortunately for the home side, there was not a yellow shirt in sight, and with the far post covered, so the shot-stopper was able to clean up his spillage.
The game was now an open affair, but it was a moment of quality which saw Reading complete the turnaround on 41 minutes.
Ola John was once again a menace down the left, and it was when slipped in by Michael Hector where he was to commit Lonergan before producing a gorgeous chip which Robson-Kanu swooped to nod into an empty net from practically on the line.
It was the Wales international’s third goal in two games on home soil, having hit the winner against Rotherham United, but it was to sadly be his last contribution to the contest.
This is because the attacker picked up an injury which was to force him off during the break, with Garath McCleary taking his place out on the right.
It was a blow for McDermott and his charges, yet Kermorgant almost softened it just seconds after the restart.
Fresh from hitting his first goals for the club the weekend before, the January signing went mighty close to opening his account at Madejski Stadium, only to see his strike roll the wrong side of the post after working himself into space inside the box.
It was a real let off for the visitors, but they were to make the most of Reading’s misfortune.
Conceding possession from an over hit Hector pass would result in a Fulham attack down the right, with Fredericks racing into the box.
He would eventually meet opposition from Cooper, but the towering defender was too physical with the midfieder, who was bundled over and won a penalty.
McCormack came into the fixture with 18 goals to his name already this season, and the 19th would arrive when drilling the spot kick into the bottom corner, sending Al Habsi the opposite way.
The hosts were soon again on the offensive, where two opportunities to reclaim the lead came and went.
The first would fall to Quinn and via a sublime John back heel. The Irishman opted to go low and hard into the corner, but a slight deflection took the strike away from goal and out for a corner.
Although the set-piece was cleared, the ball was soon recycled and pumped back into the box, where John was off target with a header.
The same player would work Lonergan into a save soon after, while it was also from his cross which set up another chance, but Cooper was unable to divert his header goalwards.
In between the chances McDermott threw on Deniss Rakels, and the Latvian was soon appealing for a penalty when going to ground under a clumsy-looking Madl challenge in the box, but referee Simon Hooper would this time wave away the calls.
The game continued to remain in the balance as full time neared, and openings of note to snatch the win would fall to both sides.
A well-worked counter saw Fulham cut Royals open through the middle, only for McCormack to see his strike blocked by a recovering defender.
Then, with the clock now counting down stoppage time, a cross from the right was met by the head of Kermorgant, but the striker was under pressure and was not able to produce the conviction needed to trouble Lonergan.
The point extends Reading’s unbeaten run in the league to five games and means they remain unbeaten at home in 2016.
Attentions now turn to Tuesday’s trip to Huddersfield Town (7.45pm).
READING: Al Habsi, Gunter (c), Ferdinand, Cooper, Obita, Norwood, Hector, Quinn (Rakels 59), Robson-Kanu (McCleary 46), Kermorgant, John.
Subs not used: Bond, Evans, Piazon, Williams, Cox.
FULHAM: Lonergan, Richards, Garbutt, Fredericks (Kacaniklic 73), Cairney (Parker 81), Madl, Baird, O’Hara (Tunnicliffe 67), Dembele, McCormack (c), Amorebieta
Subs not used: Smith, Lewis, Hyndman, Burn.
Booked: Richards, Fredericks, Tunnicliffe, McCormack.
Referee: Simon Hooper
Attendance: 17,859
