Reading overcame a deficit to beat promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in an eventful afternoon at the SCL Stadium.
Dion Charles gave the visitors the lead less than a minute after supporters had thrown tennis balls onto the pitch in protest of owner Dai Yongge.
However, Charlie Savage and Caylan Vickers both netted in the final 20 minutes to turn it around and earn back the three points taken away by the EFL last week.
The hosts started the game well, causing Bolton plenty of problems and attacking with the youthful vigour we have come to expect. Charlie Savage and Clinton Mola both saw sights of goal early on, but never truly tested Nathan Baxter in the net. Wanderers did look a classy outfit on the ball when they had their chances, knocking it around nicely and making the Royals shift side to side.
Despite plenty of gusto, there was little to write home about in the early exchanges. Well, that was until the 16th minute when a barrage of tennis balls were launched onto the pitch in protest to owner Dai Yongge, with all four corners of the SCL Stadium rising to their feet and calling for him to walk away. Even the 1700 travelling fans, who have had their own off-field issues in recent years, made their voices heard by applauding the effort from the protesters and chanting ‘F***k the EFL.’
In typical Reading fashion, they were brought back to Earth with a bang when the Lancashire outfit took the lead immediately after the restart. Northern Ireland international Charles won the battle with Bindon and finished with aplomb. From then on, the promotion challengers took control of the game and almost scored at will. Victor Adeboyejo benefitted from a deflected clearance off Sam Hutchinson to be let in on goal, only for David Button to keep the Royals in the game with a save. He did the same from the former Burton Albion forward shortly before the break.
Reading had chances though, with Femi Azeez and Ballard particularly busy. Azeez started on a mazy run and somehow kept hold of the ball before unleashing a powerful effort, only to see it come crashing back off the crossbar. Without a second for fans to catch their breath, a free kick into the Royals box caused havoc and was somehow scrambled out from the goal line.
Picking up where they left on, Bolton were on top for almost the entire second half. Within six minutes Charles should have grabbed his second, somehow volleying wide from a deep cross while almost on the goal line. The scorer was involved in another contention refereeing decision on the hour mark, sent through on goal. Colliding with Bindon, most in attendance held their breath expecting the official to point to the penalty spot, only for the referee to call for a free kick having deemed it an act of simulation.
The introductions of Paul Mukairu and Ben Elliott added some attacking flair, with both contributing heavily to the attempts in the final moments. The two combined with 25 minutes remaining as Elliott’s cross was diverted on target by the Copenhagen forward, only to force Baxter into a smart save. Savage saw a curling effort land on the roof of the net but got his reward shortly after when he fired home an unstoppable effort into the back of the net to haul his side level.
Rocked from not taking their plethora of chances, Reading ended the game back in the ascendancy and somehow managed to bundle the ball home with five minutes remaining through Academy graduate Vickers. Azeez nearly made it three in the final minute, but his effort was kept out by a strong arm from Baxter. It got worse for the visitors, who went down to 10 men in stoppage time as Eoin Toal picked up his second booking for fouling Azeez.
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