Published: Saturday, 31st October, 2009 9:00am

LIVE - Coventry City v Reading

Comments (0) | Print | Email

Follow all this afternoon's action from the Ricoh Arena right here..............l

4.53pm. FULL TIME. Coventry City 1 Reading 3.

It's all over and Reading celebrate a well-deserved victory at the Ricoh Arena.

Two goals from Grzegorz Rasiak and one from Jobi McAnuff saw Royals clinch their third league win of the season.

And results elsewhere means Brendan Rodgers side are out of the relegation zone thanks to their most complete performance of the season.

Freddie Eastwood did pull a goal back for Sky Blues to make it 2-1 but the visitors scored a third through Rasiak to banish any fears of a repeat of their collapse at Peterborough United.

4.50pm. Two minutes of time added on and no way back for Coventry.

This one's in the bag and, to be honest, it's looked that way from the very first minute when Grzegorz Rasiak headed them in front.

In fact, Royals nearly just scored a fourth when McAnuff's cross rolled an inch too far for Shane Long. But let's not get too greedy.

4.46pm. Royals fans in full voice now. They're loving this, and who can blame them?

This will be Reading's third win in the league - and all have come away from home.

Can they finally break their horrendous run at the Mad Stad next week when Ipswich come to town?

4.43pm. Lots of Sky Blues fans leaving now. They've given up on this one.

This has to be Reading's most complete performance this season - dangerous going forward and well organised at the back. Just seven minutes of normal time remaining.

4.38pm. Hussey has been booked for clattering into Ivar Ingimarsson. Royals don't look like throwing away this lead. They're still steaming into tackles and giving Coventry little time on the ball. Great performance.

4.36pm. Brendan Rodgers is showing little emoption on the touchline. But he must be beaming inside.

Not only are Reading winning, but Watford are getting hammered 5-0 by West Brom.

4.32pm. GOAL. Coventry 1 Reading 3.

And Royals have surely wrapped up the victory now thanks to GRZEGORZ RASIAK'S second goal of the game.

Before that, Alex Pearce saw a header cleared off the Coventry line but the home side never got out of their half and Royals recycled the ball well.

Then Jobi McAnuff's 20-yard drive was parried onto to the insider of the post by Coventry's keeper and Rasiak was there to snaffle up the rebound and drill the ball home from eight yards for his third of the season.

There is surely no way back for Coventry here. They've also made their last chance with Chris Hussey on for Van Aanholt.

4.28pm. Royals make another substution and Jem Karacan has come on for Brian Howard to add some fresh legs in midfield.

Just 20 minutes to go now.

But bad news as both Ipswich and Plymouth are winning.

4.22pm. GOAL. Coventry have pulled one back out of nothing.

There was some nice interplay in midfield and, when no-one closed down FREDDIE EASTWOOD, he looked up and smashed a low drive into the far corner from 25 yards.

These are nervy times for the Royals. Surely this won't be Peterborough all over again.

Coventry 1 Reading 2.

4.20pm. Great save from Adam Federici there to thwart Clinton Morrison who was clean through.

Coventry's tails are up.

4.19pm. Both sides have just hit the woodwork in the space of a minute.

Reading went first when Jobi McAnuff's cross was diverted onto the post by Coventry defender Jordan Clarke.

Them the home side went up the other end Jacm Cork smashed an effort against the cross bar via a slight defelction.

4.16pm. Brendan Rodgers makes an immediate change by sending on Shane Long for Simon Church.

Coventry's Chris Coleman follows with a double substitution that bring loud cheers from the home fans.

Leon Best is on for Michael McIndoe and Isaac Osbourne has replaced Aron Gunnarsson.

4.14pm. GOAL. And Royals storm into a 2-0 lead, and it is thoroughly deserved.

Marek Matejovsky's cross was only half-cleared but JOBI MCANUFF pounced on the loose ball and smashed a shot into the top corner from 10 yards for his first goal for the club - and what an important one.

4.12pm. Jay Tabb surged forward only for his shot to take a deflection wide. But that got Reading fans out of their seats.

4.08pm. Bit of a lucky escape for Reading there as Aron Gunnarsson's shot is deflected wide following a goalmouth scramble. But the visitors survive.

4.06pm. The second half is underway and no changes at the interval for both sides.

This could be a massive 45 minutes for Reading, and also for Brendan Rodgers.

As it stands, Royals are out of the bottom three as Peterborough are losing at home to Barnsley while Middlesbrough v Plymouth and Ipswich v Derby are both goalless.

3.47pm. HALF TIME. Coventry 0 Reading 1.

And it's all going to plan for for the Royals.

Grzegorz Rasiak headed Brendan Rodgers' men in front from Jobi McAnuff's cross just 30 seconds into the game.

And the visitors have generally been on top since and have created by far the better chances.

They look organised and up for it - while Coventry have been lacklustre and sluggish.

There were even a few jeers from disgruntled home supporters when the half-time whistle went.

But Royals are half way towards securing a desperately needed victory. Can they see this one out?

3.43pm. Another decent chance for the Royals. There was some neat build-up play before Jobi McAnuff cut inside but shot straight into the keeper's arms. McAnuff has had a fine half and supplied the cross for Rasiak's goal.

3.38pm. Still no signs of a Coventry equaliser. Reading look solid at the back and capable of dealing with the home side's threat. They'll be trying to see this out to half-time then get ready to go again.

3.33pm. Reading nearly doubled their lead there. Jobi McAnuff sent over a teasing cross, Coventry keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos came and missed it and Gregorz Rasiak looked certain to score his second of the day.

But Sky Blues defender Martin Cranie times his jump brilliantly to take the ball off the big Pole's head from a couple of yards out.

3.29pm. The ball is knocked down from a Coventry corner but Aron Gunnarsson can only smash his shot over the bar from 10 yards. A good chance for the hosts there. Royals need to be careful.

3.24pm. Brian Howard just hit one from 25 yards and the Coventry keeper was worried. It drifted just wide of the post but Royals remain on the front foot.

Coventry's main attacking weapon at the moment appears to be Aron Gunnarsson's long throw!

3.19pm. Lovely football from Coventry to win a corner. Reading put it out of play for a second flag-kick and this time the ball bounced around the arera before Freddie Eastwood hooks it goal-wards, but straight at Adam Federici.

Brian Howard also fired into the side netting at the other end.

3.14pm. Patrick Van Aanholt thinks he has equalised with a header - but it's ruled out for offside.

To be fair, the flag went up early as Reading's defence stepped up at a free-kick leaving three Coventry players in an offside position.

The hosts are starting to get back into it, though.

3.10pm. Still pretty comfortable for the visitors. Ivar Ingimarsson just blocked a shot but otherwise it's been all Reading.

3.05pm. Reading continue their impressive start. Gylfi Sigurdsson went close with an effort, Ryan Bertrand weaved his way into the box but shot straight at the keeper and Simon Church dragged a shot side from Marek Matejovsky's pass.

It's been one-way traffic really and already the home fans are getting restless.

3pm. GOAL. And Reading have gone in front just 30 seconds into the game.

Jobi McAnuff whipped in a super cross from the right and GREGORZ Rasiak did what he does best, out-jumping his marker to plant a firm header past Coventry keeper Dimi Konstantopoulous from six yards out.

A dream start for Readng. Can they see it through?

2.59pm. And there are a few more player connections to mention.

Royals duo Ryan Bertrand and Shaun Cummings played with Coventry's Jack Cork and Patrick Van Aanholt in the same Chelsea youth team under Brendan Rodgers.

2.55pm. Just a few minutes to go until kick-off in this Halloween game. Hopefully it won't turn into a nightmare afternoon for the Royals.

Today will be an emotional return for Jay Tabb who joined Royals from the Sky Blues in January and is their former Player of the Year.

Tabb remains good friends with plenty of the Coventry players and has part shares in racehorse, Bobby Gee, with their defender Ben Turner.

Tabb starts at right-back again.

We've had showgirls dressed in spooky Halloween gear and a parade from ex-Army servicemen on the weekend of Remembrance Sunday.

Now the action is about to begin....

Good afternoon and welcome to today's big Championship clash against Coventry City.

Royals are attempting to end a four-match losing streak that has left them in the relegation zone before the start of play.

Coventry, meanwhile, are a little unpredictable but will take confidence from their 0-0 draw with West Brom last weekend.

But, if Reading play as well as they did in Monday's unlucky 1-0 home defeat too Leicester they are more than capable of getting a result this afternoon.

Reading: Federici - Tabb, Ingimarsson (c), Pearce, Bertrand - McAnuff, Matejovsky, Howard, Sigurdsson - Rasiak, Church. Subs: Hamer, Cisse, Gunnarsson, Long, Karacan, Cummings, O'Dea.

Coventry: Konstantopoulos, Cranie, Turner, Cork, Van Aanholt, Grandison, McIndoe, Gunnarsson, Clarke, Eastwood, Morrison. Subs: Ireland, Ward, Bell, Best, Hussey, Osbourne, Madine.

The referee is Eddie Ilderton from Tyne and Wear.

The team news is in and boss Brendan Rodgers makes one enforced change to his starting line-up.

As expected, captain Ivar Ingimarsson returns at centre-back in place of the injured Matt Mills.

And there is no place in the squad for Jimmy Kebe who did not travel because of a groin strain.

Coventry City striker Leon Best returns from injury to win a place on the bench while their combative midfielder Aron Gunnarsson (no relation to Brynjar) returns to Chris Coleman's side.

For more stories and your full round up of what's happening in Reading you can purchase the e-edition of the Reading Chronicle click here.