Reading 2-1 Town Saturday, 3rd Aug 2013 16:53 Reading came from behind to condemn the Blues to a 2-1 opening day defeat at the Madejski Stadium. Town midfielder Jay Tabb’s first goal at his old home ground saw the Blues take the lead in the 16th minute but the Royals drew level just before the break via what appeared to be a Tyrone Mings own goal, then Danny Guthrie’s deflected 30-yard strike won it with 15 minutes to go. Mings came in for his second senior start with Aaron Cresswell — who played every minute of last season - ruled out with a thigh injury. Skipper Carlos Edwards, who spent pre-season away with Trinidad and Tobago, replaced Paul Anderson, who drops to the bench. Cole Skuse made his Town debut, while ex-Royal Tabb, Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick made their first appearances since joining the Blues on a permanent basis. Former Real Madrid man Royston Drenthe whipped over a couple of early crosses for the home side, one too deep and one which Tommy Smith cleared. At the other end, former Blues loan keeper Alex McCarthy dealt with an Elliott Hewitt long thrown confidently. The Royals enjoyed most of the possession in an opening quarter of an hour bereft of chances. Town came close to eking out an opportunity in the 14th minute when Luke Hyam found McGoldrick, who cut the ball back to Tabb, but the ball was stabbed away from the ex-Royal. However, two minutes later Tabb, who joined the Blues from Reading this summer did get his name on the scoresheet. The midfielder’s volley from Edwards’s deep cross from the right was stopped by McCarthy, McGoldrick getting to the loose ball first. The former Forest man could only stab it on to Murphy, who laid it back to Tabb and he slammed home from 10 yards for his second Town goal, two more than in his entire spell at the Madejski Stadium. The home side started to show a few nerves after going behind, giving the ball away needlessly with McGoldrick and Tabb both failing to make the most of opportunities to create decent chances as the game moved towards the half hour mark. On 31 Reading midfielder Jem Karacan was lucky to get away with a yellow card from referee David Coote after a two-footed lunge on Blues skipper Edwards in the centre circle. Moments later, Tyrone Mings — who earlier had undergone lengthy treatment for a knee injury - joined him in the book for a tackle on Chris Gunter, although he appeared to win the ball. The Royals began to threaten more as the half moved into its final 10 minutes, Luke Chambers doing well to cut out Gunter’s cross from the right ahead of Adam Le Fondre after the right-back had been found by an excellent Danny Guthrie pass from deep. It had been a half of few chances, but on 38 Murphy wasn’t able to threaten McCarthy when nodding on a Smith header. Soon after, the Irishman had another opportunity but after seizing on a loose ball couldn’t turn the ball past the advancing keeper while under pressure. The Royals got back on terms with seconds of normal time remaining. A corner was cleared to Garath McCleary on the left and the ex-Forest man sent in a cross which Mings appeared to head back across his own keeper as he challenged, along with Skuse and Le Fondre, who received rather embarrassed congratulations from his team-mates. There was just time for Loach to save McCleary’s low shot and Murphy to hit a weak effort through to McCarthy before referee Coote blew the whistle. Town had been well worth the 1-0 lead they held until moments before the whistle. They had frustrated the home side and had carved out a number of opportunities, most notably Tabb’s opening goal. Manager Mick McCarthy will be disappointed with the manner of the Reading goal, McCleary having been allowed to get his cross in too easily, although Mings — who appeared to have got the final touch after much half-time debate of the footage - was unfortunate to put the ball past his keeper as he looked to clear. There were few chances in the early stages of the second half, but Tabb threatened to score his second of the game in the 57th minute, breaking into the area before hitting a low shot just wide. Two minutes later, Hewitt was booked for the most recent of a number of fouls. Overall, Reading had been the better side since the break and in the 62nd minute almost added to their lead. Drenthe crossed low from the left and Le Fondre flicked it just beyond the post from six yards. Three minutes later, Chambers did well to clear ahead of Le Fondre after McCleary had headed back across goal from the left. The Blues were only an inch or so from going back in front in the 67th minute when Murphy did well down the left and sent in a ball which was only just in front of the sliding McGoldrick. The Town number 10 went close again a minute later when McCarthy did well to save his strike from the edge of the box after good work from Tabb. Almost immediately, the home side threatened. Town failed to deal with a deep McCleary cross from the left but Loach did superbly to rush off his line and block at Drenthe’s feet. Soon after, Morrison’s header from a corner was blocked. Reading took the lead with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. Guthrie unleashed a 30-yard strike which took a deflection before looping over Loach. While the sides were lining up for the restart, Paul Taylor replaced Murphy up front. The Blues had been largely disappointing since the break and with seven minutes remaining Mick McCarthy made his final two changes, Frank Nouble and debutant Paul Anderson taking over from McGoldrick - who like Murphy had been somewhat isolated throughout - and Edwards. Reading replaced Le Fondre with Russian frontman Pavel Pogrebnyak. As the game moved into six minutes of injury time, Chambers flicked on Hewitt’s long throw but McCarthy was equal to Anderson’s header. Town continued to push, Taylor saw a strike deflect harmlessly through to McCarthy, while the Royals threatened to add a third on the break, Chambers making an important interception as Williams took the ball into the area. Referee Coote finally blew his whistle to signal Reading’s first opening day win of the season since 2006 and a defeat for Town. The Blues would have been worthy of a lead at the break, but they were rarely in the second half, aside from Tabb’s shot and McGoldrick’s two chances and Loach will feel disappointed to have been beaten by Guthrie’s strike for the winning goal, even if the ball looked to catch another player on the way through. The home side were well in control during the second 45 minutes and but for the usual stalwart defending from Chambers and Smith — and one excellent Loach save - in the end might have won more comfortably. Reading: McCarthy, Gunter, Karacan, Pearce, Le Fondre (Pogrebnyak 83), Drenthe (McAnuff 79), McCleary, Morrison, Bridge, Robson-Kanu (Williams 67), Guthrie. Unused: Federici, Kelly, Gorkks, Obita. Town: Loach, Hewitt, Chambers, Smith, Mings, Edwards (Anderson 83), Skuse, Hyam, Tabb, Murphy (Taylor 75), McGoldrick (Nouble 83). Unused: Gerken, Berra, Veseli, Tunnicliffe. Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). Att: 20,546 (Town: 2,550).
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