Long double sinks Clarets

Anthony Smith • Published 3 Jan 2011 18:30 0 Comments

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READING boss Brian McDermott insisted transfer target Shane Long is going nowhere after his brace sealed a 2-1 comeback victory against Burnley.

Long took two minutes to cancel out Ross Wallace's 29th minute opener before the Irishman nodded home a 69th minute winner from Jobi McAnuff's corner.

Long has now scored six goals in his last five games and has 10 for the season amid rumours that West Ham are lining up a January bid.

But McDermott insists he does not need to sell: "Shane Long got another two goals and everyone in the dressing room is delighted for him," he said.

"Early on in his career he didn't get the credit he deserved. I wasn't concerned what people were saying about him. I never had any doubts and nor did the people in our dressing room.

"From my perspective it is important to keep the players we have got during this transfer window. As far as I am concerned no-one is for sale."

This was Reading's fourth game in nine days and McDermott freshened things up with four changes to the side which started in the 1-0 defeat at Brendan Rodgers' Swansea City on Saturday.

Jobi McAnuff shook off a bug and Mikele Leigertwood recovered from a knock to reclaim their places in midfield. Jem Karacan also returned to the centre of the park and Noel Hunt got the nod up front to partner Long.

That meant Simon Church, Hal Robson-Kanu, Jay Tabb and Brian Howard all dropped to the bench

Long blazed over from an early chance but Burnley's Dean Marney wasted two glorious opportunities before Wallace broke the deadlock with an accurate drive into the far corner from Tyrone Mears' cross.

But less that two minutes later a clever Noel Hunt flick sent Long racing through and the striker drew Lee Grant before calmly slotting past the Clarets keeper.

Marney's nightmare then continued on 35 minutes when he smacked a first-time effort against the post from Mears' cut-back with Adam Federici beaten.

Royals were perhaps fortunate to be on level terms at half-time but they burst out of the traps after the interval.

Five minutes in Alex Pearce found Jimmy Kebe with a brilliant raking pass and when the winger beat his man Hunt seemed certain to tap-in the cross. But the ball somehow evaded the striker as he slid in under pressure.

Long then dragged an effort wide with only Grant to beat while Ian Harte shot narrowly wide as the hosts pressed for a second goal.

Marney replied again for Clarets with a header which tested Adam Federici but the visitors were fortunate not to go behind when Kebe's piledriver struck Carlisle on the line.

However, moments later the hosts took a 69th minute lead from a routine set-play when Long found space to head home McAnuff's inch-perfect corner from close range.

Yet in keeping with a wide-open game, Burnley should have equalised immediately when Marney somehow missed the target from six yards to sum up his day.

Reading managed to muck up a string of promising breaks as Burnley threw men forward and Kebe was unlucky to see another effort blocked in front of goal by Michael Duff with 10 minutes to go.

But the closing stages were nervy for Royals fans as Wade Elliott forced a fine save from Federici and with seconds left Wallace's saw a free-kick bounce off the top of the bar with Federici rooted to the spot.

Reading, though, held on to secure their first win of 2011 and seal a double over Burnley following their 4-0 success at Turf Moor.

"That win was hard earned but well deserved," declared McDermott. "Burnley are a good side and played some really good stuff at times.

"Towards the end we got stronger and stronger and I thought we could have got the third so that I could relax, but we didn't."

Burnley caretaker boss Stuart Gray believed his side deserved at least a point, then singled out Long as the difference on the day: "The team played well and we are wondering how we came away without anything," he said.

"We will get on the bus home wondering how we failed to get three points, let alone one. Having got our noses in front you hope to stay there but Reading had Shane Long up front and he's a handful. Both my centre-halves know they have been in a game."

Reading have taken seven points from four games in a nine-day spell after Boxing Day's win against Bristol City and a 1-1 draw at Hull City along with the loss at Swansea.

"I think seven points from 12 is a successful Christmas period," argued McDermott. "Eight from 12 is Championship form."

Reading (4-4-2): Federici

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 03 Jan 11

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