Coventry City 3 - 2 Reading

[dutchman]

Second half goals from Matty Godden and Sam McCallum secured a sensational victory over league leaders Reading



The Sky Blues took a first half lead at St Andrew’s from the boot of Gus Hamer before the Royals pulled level just after the hour.

But Godden restored City’s lead 14 minutes from time before McCallum hit a thunderbolt of a shot to secure their second Championship win of the season and give Mark Robins’s men a huge shot of confidence.

Fankaty Dabo gave his side a scare in the third minute when he played a ball across the face of his own goal that was inches away from being intercepted by forward Sone Aluko who would have been clean through to score.

City, however, started on the front foot and were positive going forward and put themselves about with some strong early challenges in a highly competitive opening that saw the visitors get closer to Coventry’s goal, Alfa Semedo wasting a decent chance when he lifted high over the bar from just outside the box.

Matty Godden had the home side’s first clear cut chance when he got his head to a Ryan Giles’ cross in the 15th minute, sending it narrowly over the bar.

The striker then turned provider in the 23rd when he laid the ball back to Hamer on the edge of the box, leaving the midfielder to drill home into the bottom corner with keeper Rafael Carbal stretching low to his left as Reading went behind for the first time this season.

The Royals screamed for a penalty for hand ball after a Michael Olise cross was cut out by Michael Rose but the Sky Blues held their slender lead to the break.

The visitors started to turn the screw in the second half when Hamer was treading a tightrope, having been booked in the first half and getting a stern talking to from the referee as a final warning just before the hour.

Hyam and hit and hard and low left footed shot into the far bottom corner.

But Coventry rallied again with Max Biamou – handed his first start of the season – hitting the bar before Godden restored the lead when he followed up a saved long-range Dabo shot.

Substitute Sam McCallum then saved the best until last when he went on and popped up with a superb 35-yard thunderbolt to secure the superb victory in the 85th minute.

George Puscas then bagged a goal deep in stoppage time to make for a nervous end to the game.

[dutchman]

Leaders Reading fell to their first Championship defeat of the season as Coventry picked up their first league victory in seven attempts at St Andrew's



Royals top scorer Lucas Joao uncharacteristically fluffed his lines when in on goal before Coventry led through Gustavo Hamer's classy side-footed finish from outside the area.

Portugal forward Joao held off a home defender to steer home a fine Reading leveller from 20 yards, but the Sky Blues went ahead again when Matt Godden pounced on a rebound moments after strike partner Max Biamou hit the bar with a golden chance inside the six-yard box.

Coventry extended their advantage with Sam McCallum's 30-yard strike - which beat an uncertain-looking Rafael in the Reading goal - and Veljko Paunovic's side left empty-handed despite George Puscas netting in stoppage time.

Reading's lead at the top will be cut to three points if unbeaten Bournemouth win at home to Derby on Saturday, while Coventry are out of the relegation zone and up to 17th.

The visitors had the better openings before falling behind, Fankaty Dabo's loose pass across his own box just out of reach of Royals' forward Sone Aluko, while Joao took a loose touch when bearing down on goal as his effort was smothered by Marko Marosi.

Midfielder Hamer's slick strike was Coventry's only shot on target in the first half, going through the legs of Reading defender Liam Moore on its way in.

After Joao scored for the fourth game running Mark Robins' hosts took charge, Biamou not able to keep a close-range shot down when it looked easier to score before Godden reacted fastest when Rafael parried Dabo's low strike to pick his spot.

Rafael was arguably at fault for Coventry's third - a speculative effort that perhaps moved through the air from McCallum, who had only come on minutes earlier.

Reading had the final say but Puscas' finish from Joao's overhit touch proved to be no more than a consolation, as they lost to the Sky Blues for the first time in 11 league meetings.

Coventry boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"I think we've dealt with them pretty well and it was really important to get the three points for confidence.

"To win it the way we did, playing in the manner that we did, I thought was really good.

"We showed brilliant endeavour, commitment and some really good football was played - all three goals were outstanding."

Reading manager Veljko Paunovic told BBC Radio Berkshire:

"We never like losing and I think we had a good game, to be honest.

"We threatened, had the ball possession and created good half-opportunities but we just missed being a little more clinical.

"We felt good and comfortable in the first 45 minutes, thinking that we're going to win this game playing so well, but if you don't convert you have to think they'll at some point have their chance and they did."