REPORT | Reading 1 Wanderers 0

Schumacher applause Reading

Steven Schumacher was unable to enjoy a winning start as Wanderers’ boss as a late penalty gave Reading the points in a dramatic finish, writes Pete Oliver.

The Whites had a great chance to mark Schumacher’s first game as head coach with a victory of their own as Aaron Collins looked to set to add to his 15 goals this season as the clock ticked down.

But for once his killer instinct deserted him and Reading went up the other end to win a penalty through Kion Etete’s handball and claim all three points courtesy of Harvey Knibbs’ successful spot-kick in the 89th minute.

It was not the way Wanderers wanted it to end in Schumacher’s first day in the dug-out but there were enough positives to glean from a performance that merited at last some reward to suggest that one of those elusive play-off places - still just a point away - can still be obtained once the new man had chance to get his feet properly under the table.

The first side picked by Schumacher showed four changes to the line-up that had enjoyed a second successive win in mid-week to lifted them to the cusp of the top six.

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Collins chance Reading

Loan signing Alex Murphy was given a first start and there was also only a second taste of action since the end of October for fit-again defender Eoin Toal.

One of Reading’s two changes was enforced following the sale of Sam Smith to promotion hopefuls Wrexham but despite the departure of their top scorer the Royals made a lively start in their bid to end a four-match winless league run.

Wanderers took a while to find their feet on a poor playing surface but once they did, most of the goal threat came from the Whites.

Much of it was initially from distance as llins tried his luck and Josh Sheehan also fizzed an effort just wide.

But Collins – finding pockets of space from a slightly deeper position – also had the best chances of the first half as he looked to add to his recent goal burst and give Wanderers a lead it felt was coming.

The first saw him steer a near-post effort just wide following a surging run and cross from Toal and then after taking too long to get a shot off from Victor Adeboyejo’s pass he forced Joel Pereira into a sharp save after a pass from Joel Randall had been deflected into the forward’s path.

Wanderers didn’t carry that momentum into the start of the second half and lived dangerously for a spell, notably with an hour gone when it took a remarkable goalline clearance from George Thomason to atone for his error and keep the ball out and deny Reading the opening goal.

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Knibbs penalty Reading

That scare seemed to spark the Whites back into life as first Randall warmed the gloves of Pereira and Sheehan then clipped the top of the crossbar with a wickedly struck free-kick.

And with 25 minutes to go Schumacher made a double change to try and find a winner with Szabi Schön and new loan striker Etete pitched into the fray.

It wasn’t all Wanderers as Reading also sent on fresh legs in a bid to break the deadlock and the Whites – with Will Forrester again like a magnet to the ball – had to defend well to try and preserve another clean sheet.

But the one real clear-cut chance to grab the lead and potential victory did fall Wanderers’ way with seven minutes to go.

Collins has barely put a foot wrong in recent weeks but this time after being released by John McAtee his radar was off as faced by just Periera he dinked his attempted finish wide to keep Reading in the contest.

And with a couple of minutes to go it was the Royals who then grabbed an unlikely winner when Etete handled a free-kick lifted into the box and Knibbs accepted the chance to decide the outcome from the penalty spot.

Wanderers: Southwood; Toal, Forrester, Johnston; Dacres-Cogley (Osei-Tutu 84), Sheehan, Thomason (Morley 78), Murphy (Schön 67); Randall (McAtee 78), Collins; Adeboyejo (Etete 67). Substitutes: Baxter (GK), Jones.

Booked: Thomason, Southwood, Toal

Reading: Reading: Pereira; Craig, Dean, Bindon, Garcia (Abrefa 70); Wing; Knibbs, Savage, Campbell (Holzman 91), Wareham, Camara (Ehibhatiomhan 70). Substitutes: Button (GK), Rushesha, Kanu, Sackey.

Booked: Craig

Referee: Gavin Ward

Read Time: 4 mins