READING FC youngster Reece Oxford slammed Liam Cooper after accusing the Leeds United centre-back of ‘stamping’ on his head during a feisty 1-0 victory at Madejski Stadium.
Oxford, who came off the bench to replace Jordan Obita, went down clutching the back of his head after a clash with Cooper in the 75th minute.
Video replays showed Cooper catch the West Ham loanee’s head with his studs, however he escaped punishment from referee Keith Stroud who did not see the incident.
More I see the Cooper stamp the angrier I am. Got to get a bigger ban then Mings as it was intentional. #readingfc #lufc
— Chris Beale (@bealec1988) April 1, 2017
Hope Cooper gets a long, long ban for this. He's meant that. Disgraceful. #readingfc #lufc [🎥: @rfctom] pic.twitter.com/yjX9prD2gu
— Talk Reading (@TalkReading) April 1, 2017
Tempers then flared as Reading held on for a hard-fought victory thanks to Yann Kermorgant's 21st minute stunner, leapfrogging Garry Monk’s men into fourth spot in the Championship table.
Speaking after the game, 18-year-old Oxford said: “I thought it was a stamp. I couldn’t see it but it felt like someone just stood on my head.
“I didn’t see who it was to be fair but I’m going to go home and watch it to see what happened.
“I’m happy to get minutes on the pitch and happy to get the win. It’s a big game for us because we’re pushing for the play-offs now. Hopefully we can get another win on Tuesday and keep pushing on.
“They started coming onto us but we handled it well and we saw out the game.
“We don’t mind heading the ball, I don’t mind doing the dirty work as long as we get the win.
“Hopefully I have done enough to impress the manager but the most important thing is for the team to perform well and hopefully we can do that again against Blackburn on Tuesday.”
Prior to kick-off, fans had clashed outside Madejski Hotel and riot police were called to the scene to disperse the crowds.
And in a match embroiled with controversy, Royals’ stopper Ali Al-Habsi was struck by numerous bottles thrown onto the pitch by Leeds supporters.
Another bottle is thrown at Al-Habsi by #lufc fans after a weak penalty claim is turned down. Disgusting. No place for that. #readingfc
— Anthony Smith (@Smudgersport) April 1, 2017
The Omani stopper, 35, admitted he was disappointed by a select few supporters’ actions.
He added: “I don’t want to concentrate on what they did, I just want to concentrate on the game.
“The referee was there, he saw what happened and I’m sure he will put it in his report.
“It’s not like it’s all the fans who are throwing things, it’s just one or two.
“It’s not good for the rest of the fans.”
Reading entertain Blackburn Rovers at Madejksi Stadium on Tuesday night (8pm ko).
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