LIVE - Reading v Barnsley

Sportsdesk • Published 30 Jan 2010 10:00 0 Comments

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FULL TIME. Reading 1 Barnsley 0.

And Brian McDermott gets his managerial career off to the perfect start with a deserved victory over the Tykes.

Shane Long's first-half goal secured three much-needed points and Reading's first Championship victory since December 5.

Long's clinical strike was also his first goal in the league this season and it stood out in a game of limited chances.

But Royals always had the upper hand this victory will bolster belief in McDermott's ability to steer the club out of the relegation zone.

84 mins. Reading make another change. Brian Howard replaced Jem Karacan.

The ex-Tyke is booed by the visiting fans while Royals defend their man by singing his name.

81 mins. Tykes make their last sub with Jamil Adam on for Hammill.

Reading look like their going to ride this out and get the three points.

But it's not over yet.

74 mins. A couple of changes here. Reading teenager Nicholas Bignall has replaced Simon Church up front.

Anderson Da Silva has gone off for Barnsley, with Emil Hallfredsson coming on.

Da Silva was booked moments earlier.

62 mins. McAnuff hit the woodwork.

Bertrand drilled over a low cross that was left by Barnsley's defence. McAnuff arrived at the back post but hit the inside of the opposite post from a tight angle. Very unlucky. That would have killed the game off.

60 mins. Jobi McAnuff wastes a great chance by holding onto the ball for too long when Simon Church was in a goalscoring position.

Gunnarsson was then perhaps lucky to escape with a yellow for a studs-up challenge on Adam Hammill that clearly angered Barnsley.

58 mins. Long stings Luke Steele's hands from outside the box. Comfortable save in the end.

53 mins. Iain Hume sends a 30-yard free-kick just over the bar. Good effort that.

The attendance is 15,580 including 591 from Barnsley.

51 mins. A steady enough start by Reading. Hugo Collace has vollyed over for the visitors but McDermott's side still llook a threat.

46 mins. The second-half is underway and the floodlights are on.

Barnsley make a change and Daniel Bogdanovic is on for Jon Macken.

HALF TIME. Reading 1 Barnsley 0.

And Royals are deservedly leading through Shane Long's 29th minute goal, his first in the league this season.

Brian McDermott's men have been the better side and have created the best opportunities, while skipper Ivar Ingimarsson could easily have added a second.

But if they keep this going McDermott should secure his first league win as Reading's full-time boss.

39 mins. Jem Karacan shoots wide after some lovely interplay between Long and Church.

Royals looking comfortable here, although a few promising moves haven't come to much.

29 mins. GOAL. Reading 1 Barnsley 0.

And Royals have taken a deserved lead through SHANE LONG.

Andy Griffin did briallintly to beat a man and float in a cross. The ball slipped through Luke Steele's fingers, Gylfi Sigurdsson hooked it back across the box and Long took a touch before burying it past the Tykes keeper.

That's Long's first league goal of the season.

20 mins. Barnsley skipper Steve Foster makes a crucial interception to prevent Church's pass running to Long who was completely unmarked in front of goal.

18 mins. There was nothing embarrassing about what Bertrand just did.

Adam Hammill burst into the Reading area and his angled shot looked like going in until Bertrand hacked the ball off the line.

15 mins. More nice stuff from Reading but they're lacking composure in the final third.

Bertrand's having an influential game but his cross was so bad a minute a go he failed to hide his embarrassment.

12 mins. Reading piling on the pressure now. Another dangerous flag-kick almost ended in a Darren Moore own goal.

8 mins. Simon Church goes close from 25-yards. Promising from Reading.

5 mins. Reading waste a great chance to take the lead.

Ryan Bertrand's in-swinging corner was flicked on by Brynjar Gunnarsson.

Ivar Ingimarsson stole in at the back post but the Royals' skipper somehow headed over the bar when it looked easier to score.

3pm. And we're underway on this sunny but frosty winter's afternoon.

And already bad news for Royals fans as Derby have beaten Nottingham Forest to ease their relegation worries and move on to 32 points.

2.20pm. The teams are in and Royals make two changes to the side which started in Tuesday night's 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United.

Brynjar Gunnarsson comes in for Kalifa Cisse in midfield and Simon Church gets the nod up front instead of Gunnar Thorvaldsson.

There is also a place on the subs bench for Nicholas Bignall and Blackburn loan signing Zurab Khizanishvili.

Barnsley, meanwhile, hand a start to Iain Hume up front as they look to avenge their 3-1 defeat to Reading at Oakwell in August.

But if Royals win it will be their first double over any side this season.

Reading: Federici - Griffin, Ingimarsson, Mills, Bertrand - McAnuff, Gunnarsson, Karacan, Sigurdsson - Church, Long. Subs: Kebe, Rasiak, Bignall, Howard, Thorvaldsson, Khizanishvili, Hamer.

Barnsley: Steel - Shotton, Moore, Foster, Dickinson - Da Silva, Colace, Doyle, Hammill - Hume, Macken. Subs: Preece, Gray, Butterfield, Hallfredsson, Potter, Bogdanovic, Adam.

The referee is James Linington from Isle of Wight.

Welcome to the Chronicle for live coverage of Brian McDermott's first game as Royals' new permanent manager.

And what a massive one it is as Reading search for their first Championship victory since December 5.

Royals, currently second bottom of the table, desperately need three points today.

But it won't be easy against Mark Robins' Tykes who are much improved since the early part of the season when Royals, then managed by Brendan Rodgers, beat them 3-1 at Oakwell in August.

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