Barnsley 0
Reading 1 (Gunnarsson 63)

Ten-man Reading put in a cracking performance to take three hugely welcome points in a very eventful game away to Barnsley on Saturday afternoon.

The game was delayed by 15 minutes after our team bus broke down on the M1, and there were plenty of talking points out on the pitch as well.

We hit both posts in the space of ten seconds during the first half, and then Jimmy Kebe was shown a straight red card on 36 minutes for lashing out at a defender.

Brynjar Gunnarsson came off the bench early in the second period, and just like in our last away game at Cardiff the substitute popped up with an absolutely vital goal.

Kevin Doyle also deserves credit for doing brilliantly up front on his own, and he worked ever so hard in creating the goal.

Doyle and James Harper almost added a second for us as the game opened up, but we had plenty of defending to do inside the last twenty minutes.

Their sub Kayode Odejayi had a couple of very good chances late on, but we kept the Tykes at bay.

Considering we were a man down it was a cracking result, and a performance full of resilience - as well as a bit of quality from supersub Gunnarsson and Doyle.

Barnsley: Muller; Hassell, Van Homoet (El Haimour 77), Foster (c), Souza; Colace, De Silva, Campbell-Ryce, Whaley (Odejayi 67); Cureton, Macken (Rigters 87)
Subs: Mostto, Coulson
Booked: Foster (foul 47), Macken (dissent 66)

Reading: Hahnemann; Rosenior, Armstrong, Duberry, Ingimarsson; Cisse, Harper (c), Kebe, S Hunt; Doyle, N Hunt (Gunnarsson 56)
Subs: Federici, Matejovsky, Henry, Long
Booked: Cisse (foul 24)
Sent off: Kebe (violent conduct 36)

Ref: C Oliver

Attendance: 11,938 (716 away fans)

World TV: Coppell video verdict
World TV: Bryn on his goal

Full report
Reading had the first sight of goal, Stephen Hunt's excellent free kick flicked on by Kevin Doyle; 'keeper Heinz Muller making a very good save from close range.

The game was a little stop-start and the Tykes' first effort came from Jon Macken but he was well over on the turn.

With 20 gone Jimmy Kebe went on a cracking run from well inside his own half, but his pass into the frontman was just cut out on the edge of the penalty area..

Barnsley's Marciano Van Homoet got forward very well from left back on 24 minutes, and should have got a shot off but thankfully overran possession and was tackled.

Reading then began to up the ante, and were desperately close to opening the scoring on the half hour - hitting both posts in the space of no more than ten seconds.

First a Stephen Hunt free kick looped up off Macken, and as it dropped out of the sky it hit the post and sliced back into play. Kevin Doyle recycled it and got a cross in that Kebe headed - but again Muller made a good save and tipped onto the woodwork to keep us out.

Just as Reading looked to be getting on top, they found themselves a man down as Kebe was sent off. Reading had a throw well up the pitch on the right, and the Malian was jostling for position with Dennis Souza inside the box. Both players seemed to be nudging each other, and the referee blew to come over and calm things down.

As he whistled, Kebe seemed to shove his opponent, in full view of the ref, and although it was not a particularly vicious action and Souza easily stayed on his fee and did not reactt, once hands were raised there only seemed to be one outcome and the red card came out.

Noel Hunt dropped in to right wing, and the remainder of the half passed without a real chance of any note.

Second half
Macken stung Marcus Hahnemann's palms with a decent effort not long after the break, and it was a decent save from our American as he got down low.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, we then began to get on top and Barnsley were again thankful to keeper Muller for another cracking save, this time denying Ivar Ingimarsson point-blank as he headed Stephen Hunt's corner.

Steve Coppell soon threw on Brynjar Gunnarsson - and what an inspired substitution it proved to be, On 63 the Icelander looked for Doyle down the wing, and a Barnsley defender dithered and dallied, allowing the hard-working Irishman to win possession in a good area.

Gunnarsson had made a bursting run in the middle, and Doyle found him with a tidy pass. Brynjar still had plenty to do, and cut inside onto his left foot before driving in a shot that was deflected and in. It was untidy but just like at Cardiff last midweek, Reading were down to ten men but Gunnarsson had come off the bench to score.

Moments later Barnsley threw men into the box and caused a real panic but thankfully we were able to clear.

Then Tykes sub Kayode Odejayi had a good sight of goal on 71, but stabbed over from 12 yards after a shot was deflected into his path. Simon Davey's side were looking dangerous, and a few minutes later Hahnemann saved from Macken but it was no real concern.

Reading were still a threat down the other end, and Doyle was working so, so hard. He created a chance all of his own and shot into the side netting after superb diligence.

Skipper James Harper then looked destined to score as we broke superbly from a free kick. Chris Armstrong did superbly, and if Harper had slid in then he would surely have scored but it just evaded him.

With a couple of minutes left Odejayi had a very good chance, but hooked miles over from eight yards as he looked perhaps offside in the middle.

As the final whistle blew there was obvious elation for our players, who knew they had worked incredibly hard to get a win that could prove vital.

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