Reading 0
Sheff Utd 1 (Howard 59)
Reading were edged out 1-0 in a hard-fought promotion battle at Madejski Stadium this Good Friday - and they can count themselves perhaps unfortunate not to take anything from the game after giving everything they had.
The first half was a nip and tuck affair, and we were then denied a clear penalty for handball against full back Gary Naysmith three minutes into the second period.
Dave Kitson soon hit the bar with a header that left Paddy Kenny stranded, and a minute later United scored when Brian Howard pounced - the midfielder arguably fortunate to be on the pitch after a challenge on sub Jay Tabb that bordered on a second yellow. Tabb was on in place of Kalifa Cisse, who went to hospital for scans on a neck injury that needed six minutes of treatment.
Kitson almost scored immediately after the goal, but Paddy Kenny tipped over the crossbar. We threw every single player forward late on but struggled to create a clear chance; United almost getting in a couple of times on the break as we got a bit panicky and all-too anxious in our play.
It was a real scrap, and only a first defeat in ten against the Blades - but a bitter blow in our bid for the top two.
Reading (4-4-2): Hahnemann; Kelly, Armstrong, Bikey, Duberry; Cisse (Tabb 43), Matejovsky (N Hunt 78), Kebe (Little 70), S Hunt; Doyle, Kitson
Subs: Federici, Long
Booked: Armstrong (foul 66), Duberry 79)
Sheff Utd (4-1-4-1): Kenny; Naughton, Naysmith, Kilgallon, Morgan (c); Montgomery; Howard (Hendrie 90), O'Toole (Beattie 55), Halford, Ward (Cotterill 82); Henderson
Subs: Bromby, Lupoli
Booked: Howard (foul 29)
Attendance: 20,756
First half
The game started at a good pace, and Dave Kitson then John-Joe O'Toole both put efforts wide. Then two former Reading men combined, Darius Henderson finding Greg Halford, only for the latter to volley wide from 20 yards.
Halford had the ball in the back of our net on 18 - but it was correctly disallowed as he was one of three United players standing in an offside position.
Marek Matejovsky then sidefooted a volley goalwards from Julian Kelly's cracking cross, but it was comfortable for Paddy Kenny to gather in the visitors' goal.
With 35 minutes gone Reading had a great chance from a corner - but unfortunately it dropped to Michael Duberry and he smashed over left-footed from seven yards. Kitson was behind him and was much better placed but there was either no call or Duberry took it upon himself to shoot.
Moments later Kalifa Cisse went up for an aerial challenge with Henderson and landed awkwardly, immediately holding his neck as he lay on the floor. Our Malian international required some six minutes of treatment as the buggy came onto the pitch and he was taken to hospital for a precautionary scan while Jay Tabb came on in his place.
Inside stoppage time Andre Bikey took down a cross on the edge of the Blades' area and a great touch allowed him to shoot but he couldn't keep it down on his left foot.
Second half
Three minutes after the restart Reading had a stonewall penalty claim - but referee Kevin Friend gave nothing. A long cross went toward Jimmy Kebe at the far post, and he went up with Gary Naysmith. The Scot clearly had his arm high in the air and moved it toward the ball - but incredibly nothing was given, a massive let-off for the Blades. Their midfielder Brian Howard was then lucky not to be shown a second yellow for a high foot that caught Tabb in the face.
Reading were then inches away from an opener - Kitson getting in a great header from Kebe's cross, hitting the bar with Kenny rooted to the spot - desperately unlucky for Steve Coppell's men and so close to that vital first goal.
We were immediately made to rue that near miss because the Blades went in front with an infuriatingly too scrappy goal. Matthew Kilgallon outjumped Chris Armstrong at the back post to get in a header that hit the crossbar and came down. Howard - lucky to be on the pitch - was quickest to react and got a shot away that came off the sliding Stephen Hunt and past Marcus Hahnemann.
We went straight down the other end and Kitson got a good volley away - but it was too near to Kenny and he tipped over the bar. Kenny then looked uncertain dealing with a couple of balls that came into the box but it would not drop for us.
As we pushed for an equaliser, United sub Craig Beattie went one-on-one with Marcus Hahnemann but fluffed his lines and we were able to clear.
Beattie then should have been booked for a dreadful dive as Bikey went on a mazy run; the Cameroonian doing everything he could to create a chance after running from deep and causing problems in the opposition penalty box.
We were pushing desperately for a goal, and Tabb scuffed one wide from 18 yards before sub Noel Hunt couldn't generate enough power with a tough headed chance.
Henderson and then Beattie could have snatched another for the visitors and it was a hugely frustrating afternoon for the Royals. We should have had a penalty, hit the bar and the opposition's goal was a deflected strike from a player lucky to be on the pitch. That will very much sound like sour grapes but we we gave everything and were probably just guilty of panicking in search of a goal in those dying stages.
In fairness to the visitors they put their bodies on the line whenever called upon, and it is clearly a massive result for them - but one from which Reading must lift themselves and look to quickly get back on track in our last five games.
