Sunderland delivered a massive blow to Reading's play-off hopes as they took away a two goal victory from the Madejski Stadium. Reading were finished off with two goals in the space of a minute, with less than twenty minutes left, when a draw was looking the most likely result after an average afternoon's entertainment. With a number of key players still out for the Royals we started with the same eleven that took the three points at Cardiff. Although the game was played at a lively pace in the first half and Kitson was certainly involved up front, there were few chances for either side. When the chances did come it was Ashdown, who had a solid performance, that was called into action more often. He held a header from a corner that was directed straight at him and saw Sunderland put a couple of other efforts high or wide. Reading started to look the more comfortable side on the ball and played some reasonable football to little effect.

The second half saw Sunderland gradually get a better grip on the game and Reading begin to simply hoof it up-field. Reading seemed set to hold on until a move down the left saw a cross headed home - a free header but an impressive goal. After the celebrations died down and the game restarted it was all over for Reading when Sunderland swarmed forward, Ashdown made a good save but the ball came loose in the middle to be proded home and put the visitors 0-2 up. As a sign of Reading's lack of forward play they won their first corners of the game with ten minutes left - but could make nothing of it. Sunderland were reduced to ten men after a second yellow card for Whitley with seven minutes still left but Reading failed to pile on the pressure. The result saw Sunderland claim sixth place in the table, and with Ipswich also victorious today Reading slipped down to eighth. The Royals are only two points out of the play-off positions but with a very hard run in to the season and other teams having games in hand it looks like the play-offs will be a very tall order.

Following report from John Wells
Having forced their way back into the play-off positions with a great win at Cardiff during the week, the Royals were brought back to earth with a bump by a Sunderland side whose season has gradually gained momentum. On today's showing they looked far more likely to be serious contenders for a play-off spot. A two goal burst with around fifteen minutes to go gave the visitors the points when the game looked to be heading towards a scrappy draw.

The game started at a fast and furious pace with Sunderland closing Reading down very quickly all over the field. Neither team were creating clear chances. Sunderland were controlling the midfield but unable to break down a well organised Reading defence in spite of Shorey's absence and a far from match fit Brown at centre back. Newman played superbly throughout at left back, and was just about Reading's best player, but he could not provide same creative options as Shorey. Hughes and Murty were mainly occupied defensively so there was no attacking threat down the right. Salako managed to squeeze in a couple of crosses but they were comfortably dealt with by the Sunderland defence. Goater was looking sluggish and although Kitson was working hard and showing some nice touches he was not really getting very good service from midfield and kept straying offside. Sunderland had the best chances of the half just before the interval when Whitley headed straight at Ashdown from a corner and then Ashdown had to get down quickly to block along range effort from Oster.

The heavy rain stopped for the second half and the wind picked up sending a vast amount of litter swirling around the pitch. It was an untidy game in every sense! Moves broke down frequently through misplaced passes and Reading were content to pump long balls forward which Sunderland coped with easily. Morgan replaced Goater with half an hour left and Reading seemed to perk up a bit. A Salako cross was met by Hughes but he failed to get any power into his header and Poom was not tested.

Brooker replaced Salako in the seventieth minute and four minutes later Byfield put Sunderland ahead nipping in between Reading defenders to head past Ashdown. Almost immediately Sunderland scored again with aid of a poor decision by the referees assistant. Two Sunderland players were offside when a ball was played down the right. One of the offenders, Smith, ran on to the pass, cut inside and fired in a shot which Ashdown saved well. Unfortunately the ball ricocheted around the six yard box, was cleared off the line by Brown, and finally tucked away by Smith with Ashdown stranded. That seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Royals who hadn't really looked like scoring all afternoon anyway. Morgan then set about taking on Sunderland single handed and came close to scoring twice in the last few minutes. First he nutmegged a Sunderland defender in the box but was foiled by Poom when he shot, and then he cut in from the left and unleashed a vicious drive which flashed wide of the far post. It was the sort of direct and aggressive play that had been lacking around goal for most of the match. Whitley's sending off for second yellow card seemed harsh and had no bearing on the outcome of the game, but at least we were treated to the sight of an outraged Mick McCarthy throwing a tantrum about the decision which made me smile. Not much else did this afternoon.

When you look at the league table, mathematically we are still in the hunt, but games are running out, and there are some tough ones looming. There were some important players absent today but even with them I don't think we are quite good enough to force our way into the play-offs. I hope I am proved wrong. We will soon find out how good we are with home games against Norwich, West Brom and West Ham.
John