John Salako and Shaun Goater scored the goals which gave 10-man Reading
victory even though they were totally dominated throughout this battle of the
play-off contenders.
Steve Coppell's inconsistent side were on the receiving end of a battering but
their goals came at ideal times and they clung on despite having Steve Sidwell
sent off with 34 minutes remaining.
Coventry, who had scored four goals in each of their last two home games,
started the match looking as though they would again cause their opponents all
sorts of problems with Gary McSheffrey heading wide in the third minute from a
cross by his strike partner Julian Joachim.
In their next attack, a Muhamed Konjic header was parried by Reading
goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown, who was continuing to deputise for injured Marcus
Hahnemann.
But in the 10th minute, completely against the run of play, the visitors took
the lead. Calum Davenport conceded a free-kick with a foul on Dave Kitson and
when Salako floated the ball in from the left, it eluded everyone and nestled
into the bottom corner of the net.
Apart from a Kitson effort that was held by Coventry goalkeeper Scott Shearer,
Reading failed to build on their goal and the Sky Blues pressed for an equaliser
with Bjarni Gudjonsson going close.
Konjic was proving a threat at Gudjonsson's excellent corners, having another
decent chance which he headed wide, while Ashdown came under further pressure
from an Eric Deloumeaux effort and a Davenport header that was scrambled off the
line by Graeme Murty.
As the half drew to a close McSheffrey, who had scored five goals in his
previous six appearances, had two good opportunities but sent both wide.
Eric Black's men continued to have all the play when the second period began
with McSheffrey continuing to be wasteful in front of goal, and they were made
to pay in the 54th minute when Goater made it 2-0.
Sidwell sent over a cross from the right and the former Manchester City
striker knocked the ball home from close range.
Two minutes later, however, the goal provider turned from hero to villain.
Sidwell, who had earlier been booked for fouling Gudjonsson, was shown the red
card following his second bookable offence, a challenge on Michael Doyle.
It was an amazing scoreline considering how little of the game Reading were
having and their reduction to 10 men spurred on their rivals to get back into
it, which they did in the 67th minute.
The goal came after Davenport had twice gone close with headers and he was
involved again, nodding on another Gudjonsson corner which McSheffrey converted
for his 19th goal of the season.
Coventry substitute Sebastian Olszar could twice have levelled within the last
eight minutes but spurned both openings and the hosts were left to wonder how
the game had got away from them.
Teams:
Coventry: Shearer, Deloumeaux, Davenport, Konjic, Staunton,
Gudjonsson, Kerr, Doyle (Olszar 60), Warnock (Barrett 85),
Joachim, McSheffrey.
Subs Not Used: Ward, Shaw, Pead.
Booked: Doyle, McSheffrey.
Goals: McSheffrey 67.
Reading: Ashdown, Murty, Newman, Ingimarsson, Hughes, Salako,
Harper, Sidwell, Morgan (Brooker 65), Goater (Watson 58),
Kitson (Savage 75).
Subs Not Used: Young, Boucaud.
Sent Off: Sidwell (57).
Booked: Sidwell.
Goals: Salako 10, Goater 54.
Att: 15,811
Ref: A Butler (Nottinghamshire).
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