Reading Report

[Libertine]

from lcfc.co.uk

Leicester City slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Championship leaders Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday night. Kevin Doyle's second half strike coupled with substitute Brynjar Gunnarsson's late header proved to be the difference between the two sides as the hosts preserved their nine-point lead at the top-of-the-table.

City, who made five changes prior to kick-off, fought hard and more than matched their high-flying opponents for long periods and came close through Mark de Vries and Momo Sylla.

But the hosts were more clinical in front of goal on the night and continued their march towards automatic promotion.

The Royals made the early running and after the ball was won in midfield by Steve Sidwell, Bobby Convey scuffed his shot wide from the right hand angle.

But City, who adopted a 4-5-1 formation for the match, settled after the opening exchanges and experienced their fair share of possession.

Nicky Shorey's dangerous inswinging free-kick was punched clear by Rab Douglas on 10 minutes before Sylla was crowded out on the edge of the visitors' penalty area.

Alan Maybury let fly from 25-yards in the 15th minute but the ball flew over Marcus Hahnemann's bar.

Two minutes later Douglas did enough to prevent Sidwell from hitting the target after a fine through ball with the outside of the boot by John Oster.

The hosts had appeals for a penalty turned down by referee Alan Wiley on 25 minutes after Douglas and Dave Kitson clashed in the area before Hahnemann collected well under pressure from a City corner.

The Foxes continued to frustrate their high-flying opponents with Gareth Williams and Stephen Hughes linking well in the visitors' engine room.

Sylla nearly capitalised on a mix up between Hahnemann and Ibrahima Sonko in the 35th minute but he was penalised for raising his boot in the area.

City missed a golden opportunity to take the lead three minutes later when Sylla teed up Joe Hamill on the edge of the area, but, with the ball coming across him, he dragged his left foot effort wide of the target.

In the 44th minute, lone striker de Vries met Maybury's flighted cross from the right but his header was saved by Hahnemann.

Then Shorey tested Douglas from 20-yards but the Scottish keeper was equal to the task and gathered the ball to his right.

On the stroke of half-time, de Vries beat Sonko with some neat trickery on the edge of the area then unleashed a blistering shot but Hahnemann dived full length to his left to save impressively, ensuring the game remained goalless at the interval.

The visitors were the first to show after the break when de Vries almost connected with Williams' through ball, but Hahnemann was quick off his line to gather.

Sonko was booked after bringing down de Vries on the edge of the area and from the resulting free-kick, Hamill's shot was blocked before the danger was cleared.

On 54 minutes, Kitson was penalised for bringing down Sylla and from the free-kick, Joey Gudjonsson drilled his shot just wide of the right-hand upright.

However, it was the Royals who took the lead on the hour thanks to a Kevin Doyle strike.

The hitman capitalised on a Patrik Gerrbrand slip before running clear and slotting the ball under Douglas for the opener.

City nearly hit back immediately but an advancing Hughes just failed to connect with Hamill's cross from the left.

De Vries forced Hahnemann to palm his shot on the turn around the post for a corner in the 66th minute but the set-piece came to nothing as the visitors looked for the leveller.

At the other end, Doyle found the side-netting three minutes later before Convey dragged his effort wide.

That was to be his last action of the game as he made way for Stephen Hunt on 70 minutes.

Craig Levein made a treble substitution in the 73rd minute with Richard Stearman, Elvis Hammond and Ryan Smith replacing Gerrbrand, Hughes and Hamill respectively.

Paddy McCarthy and Kitson were both carded after an altercation on the half-way line before Shane Long came on for Kitson on 79 minutes.

Sylla shot straight at Hahnemann soon after then Gunnarsson replaced Oster in the 83rd minute.

But Reading made sure of the three points three minutes from time when substitute Brynjar Gunnarsson met a free-kick from the left and looped his header into the top corner over Douglas.

Gunnarsson was booked soon after but the damage was done and City were again left to return home from their travels with nothing to show for their endeavours.

City: Douglas, Maybury, McCarthy, Gerrbrand (Stearman 73), Kisnorbo ©, Sylla, Gudjonsson, Williams, Hughes (Hammond 73), Hamill (Smith 73), De Vries. Subs not used: Hume, Henderson.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty ©, Shorey, Sidwell, Sonko, Oster (Gunnarsson 83), Kitson (Long 79), Harper, Ingimarsson, Convey (Hunt 70), Doyle. Subs not used: Stack, Makin.

Yellow Cards

City: Gudjonsson (72), McCarthy (78)

Reading: Sonko (49), Kitson (78), Gunnarsson (88), Hunt (90)

Referee: Alan Wiley

Attendance: 22,061

[Head Honcho]

Looks like Gerrbrand will be CL's scapegoat for this match