Souza blunder costs Tykes
Royals claim second win in a week
Last Updated: December 6, 2008 6:51pm
Gunnarsson: Second half winner
Reading claimed their second victory of the week after securing a 1-0 success at Barnsley despite playing over half the match a man down.
Steve Coppell's side dispatched Coventry City on Monday night and made it six points from six at Oakwell thanks to Brynjar Gunnarsson's winner.
A defensive howler from Dennis Souza gifted the goal to Reading, although the visitors had to battle it out a man light in the second half following Jimmy Kebe's dismissal.
The visitors enjoyed much of the early possession and were denied an early breakthrough when Heinze Muller tipped Kevin Doyle's flicked header round the post.
Despite their early dominance, however, the Royals looked susceptible on the counter-attack and they almost got caught out when, after a poor defensive clearance, the ball fell to Jon Macken who shot over the bar.
The hosts had a promising opportunity moments later with a free-kick on the edge of the area, but, after a layoff from Hugo Colace, on-loan winger Simon Whaley sent a woeful shot well wide of the target.
Audacious chip
Barnsley striker Jamie Cureton went close with an audacious chip from outside the box but Marcus Hahnemann was alert enough to back-pedal and gather the ball.
After a quiet period the game sprung into life in the 35th minute when Kebe was sent off for raising his hands after a tangle with Souza.
The Tykes, eager to take advantage of their numerical advantage, began the second half brightly and top-scorer Macken warmed the hands of Marcus Hahnemann with a long-range shot.
But Reading were by no means second best and they went close to finding the net when Ivar Ingimarsson found himself unmarked at the far post and was only denied the opening goal by an outstretched hand from Muller.
The visitors did take the lead in the 64th minute after a defensive mistake from Souza left Gunnarsson to knock into the empty net.
And despite some late pressure from the hosts, Reading held on for a deserved victory.
Matches
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npower Championship
Table
npower Championship
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 46 | 87 |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 46 | 75 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 72 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 68 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 68 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 61 |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 59 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 58 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 58 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 58 |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 56 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 55 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Bristol City | 46 | 41 |
Brynjar Gunnarsson
