MATCH REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 0-1 READING

Cardiff City lost 1-0 to Reading in their third Sky Bet Championship home fixture of the season. The goal came late on with Yann Kermorgant striking one minute from the end of normal time.

City began the game at a high tempo with their forwards not giving the opposition defence any time on the ball. But Reading, in their luminous away strip, had the game’s first chance. The ball was whipped in from the corner and it took a brilliant intervention from Lee Peltier to stop Yann Kermorgant providing a decisive touch.

The Bluebirds responded well when Kadeem Harris beat Tyler Blackett for pace and swung a cross in that only just eluded the head of Aron Gunnarsson. The ball then fell to Jazz Richards on the edge of the area who unleashed a vicious drive that ‘keeper Ali Al-Habsi just managed to tip over the bar. Minutes later Lex Immers had another good headed chance but failed to direct his attempt goal-wards.

With the first half drawing to a close, Immers had another headed opportunity, but again could not keep his effort on target. This proved to be the final meaningful act as the teams left the field at the break.

Cardiff started the second half brightly and a good run from Pilkington freed Joe Ralls to have an effort at goal but the midfielder saw his shot deflected wide for a corner. The Bluebirds then went close from the resulting set-piece when Sean Morrison nodded Peter Whittingham’s corner narrowly wide.

Just after the hour mark the Royals nearly grabbed the lead as Matt Connolly miscued a clearance and sent it spiraling into the air. Wilson failed to gather the ball, but City managed to clear it off the line after it fell to Beerens.

The Bluebirds wrestled the initiative back with around twenty minutes left and Harris, in particular, was driving purposefully at the opposition. Some good work from the wing back found Pilkington who sent in a dangerous cross that substitute, Frédéric Gounongbe headed just over.

However, with one minute of normal time remaining, Reading managed to snatch all three points. Jordan Obita picked out Kermorgant and the Frenchman controlled the ball well before firing into the bottom corner.

FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 0-1 READING

Scorer: Kermorgant 89’

Attendance: 15,013

Cardiff City: Wilson, Morrison, Connolly, Peltier (Manga 31’), Harris, Richards Whittingham, Ralls, Gunnarsson (Noone 83’) Immers (Gounongbe 56’), Pilkington.
Subs not used: Amos, Le Fondre, Huws,  Ajayi.
 
Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Blackett (Obita 82’), McShane, Moore (Quinn 63’), Van Den Berg Evans, Beerens, McCleary, Williams, Kermorgant.
Subs not used: Jaakkola, Swift, Mendes, Harriott, Watson.