Reading FC 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
James Walker-Roberts • Published 26 Dec 2011 16:56
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Reading skipper Jobi McAnuff was on target twice in the first half against Brighton.
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READING FC climbed up into the Championship play-off places after their third successive league win.
With Leeds United losing at Derby County earlier in the day, Royals knew that a victory against Gus Poyet's Brighton & Hove Albion would see them go sixth in the table, and they duly delivered.
The home side bossed the early stages of the match and they deservedly took the lead in the 17th minute when Jobi McAnuff got on the end of Jimmy Kebe's left-wing cross and finished past Casper Ankergren.
The goal sparked Brighton into life and Royals' threat dwindled until the end of the first half when they doubled their advantage.
McAnuff showed quick feet to cut in from the left flank and skipped past a defender before lashing in a shot that deflected off Simon Church and over the goalkeeper.
Reading were unable to build on their lead in the second half, however, and were fortunate to come away with a clean sheet as Brighton wasted a number of good chances on goal.
Substitute Craig Noone caused numerous problems for the Reading defence with his left-wing crosses and it was from one of those that Craig Mackail-Smith missed Brighton's best chance, heading wide from six yards out.
The Seagulls also had strong penalty claims waved away when Andy Griffin appeared to impede Mackail-Smith in the six-yard box and both the former Peterborough man and Billy Paynter were guilty of spurning other decent opportunities.
Brighton's misery was compounded in injury-time when Kebe darted in from the right wing and put in a teasing cross that Adam El-Abd deflected past the goalkeeper.
The win lifts Reading a point above seventh-placed Leeds ahead of their final match of 2011 against Ipswich Town at the Madejski on December 31 (3pm ko).
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 26 Dec 11
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