READING kept fans’ festive spirits high with a battling 3-1 victory over a ten-man Norwich City, heaping pressure on Canaries’ boss Alex Neil, writes Courtney Friday.

Goals from Yann Kermorgant and Garath McCleary came either side of Nelson Oliveria’s equaliser, and a late strike from substitute Callum Harriott helped the Royals achieve back-to-back victories and their eighth win in their last 10 games.

Johnny Howson was the talking point of the match however when he handled the ball on the goal-line as Reading looked destined to score, and the midfielder was sent off for his sloppy decision making.

The recently-relegated visitors struggled to regain momentum following Howson’s dismissal, and Reading were able to capitalise on their one-man advantage with Harriott’s first league goal for the club.

Reading then held firm to cement their third-place spot in the Championship table, much to the delight of a packed out Madejski Stadium on Boxing Day.

Yann Kermorgant and Danny Williams both returned to the starting line-up following injury and suspension respectively. George Evans dropped to the bench, despite scoring the winning goal against Blackburn Rovers, and Liam Kelly kept his place in Jaap Stam’s starting line-up.

There was also a welcome return fit-again John Swift, who has been ruled out for more than a month with an ankle injury. He took his place on young bench, with the average age of 21 years old.

Visiting manager Alex Neil made two changes to his side that lost 2-1 to Huddersfield recently, including Alex Tettey replacing Martin Olsson.

Reading nearly got off to a dream start when Kermorgant was released through the middle, he shifted the ball across for Kelly but it was cut out and put behind for a corner, which came to nothing.

A neat pass from young midfielder then released Beerens down the left with two minutes played, the winger created some space with his tricky footwork but his cross was well dealt with by the City defence.

An accidental clash between Kermorgant and McShane hurt the skipper with five minutes on the clock, but Royals’ captain eventually made it back up to his feet.

Steven Naismith whipped in a dangerous cross from the right with 10 minutes played but Norwich winger Jacob Murphy could not quite get on the end of it. Naismith got his head on the resulting corner but the ball looped over Al-Habsi’s crossbar.

Norwich were then awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position five minutes later after a van den Berg foul. Robbie Brady fired towards goal but it hit the wall and went out for another Norwich corner.

The first shot on target came from Tettey after he snaked through the Royals’ defence, but his tame left-footed shot was easily gathered by Al-Habsi.

Graham Dorrans was forced off of the pitch with 22 minutes gone, he tried to stop a quick free-kick from McShane and got himself injured in the process.

An uncharacteristically tame header from Liam Moore fell straight to Naismith at the edge of the box, the Scottish midfielder hit the ball first time and it narrowly avoided Al-Habsi’s far post.

After a lacklustre start to the game Reading finally came to life with 34 minutes following a great run from Danny Williams. The USA international drove at the Norwich defence but he was brought down by Tettey, who found himself in the referee’s book.

A minute later Roy Beerens charged down the left-hand side and was fouled by Pinto, who also earned himself a yellow card.

And it was Yann Kermorgant who gave Reading the lead after he got on the end of a fine delivery by young midfielder Kelly, the Frenchman rose highest and guided his header beyond John Ruddy with 37 minutes played.

Roy Beerens had time and space to double Reading’s lead just moments later, but the Dutchman’s effort sailed well wide of Ruddy’s post.

A neat free-kick from Brady had Reading worried at the back right on the stroke of half-time, but the Royals managed to clear the resulting goal-mouth scramble and go into the break with a 1-0 lead.

The visitors threatened first in the second half with Bassong getting on the end of a Brady free-kick, but the header was weak and Al-Habsi gathered easily. There was more pressure when Oliveira burst down the left and fired the ball across the face of the goal, but luckily for Reading there was nobody to get on the end of it.

Good work from Kelly allowed the ball to fall for McCleary, he laid it off for Kermorgant who struck the ball first-time, but unfortunately his effort sailed just above the cross-bar.

The Frenchman nearly doubled his tally on 53 minutes when he found himself with a free header from a corner, but his low effort was swept up by Ruddy.

Norwich turned up the tempo with 59 minutes’ played, a low cross from the right was well dealt with by Reading however. The equaliser came a minute later when another low cross found Oliveira unmarked on the 12-yard spot, the striker had plenty of time to pick his spot and fire it past Al-Habsi.

Reading were under pressure and Oliveira had a chance to double his tally just seconds later, but Al-Habsi saved well at his near post.

Steven Naismith then came close with a cushioned header, but he could only find the side netting, much to the disappointment of the visiting fans.

Royals tried to unlock the city defence with 65 minutes played, but Gunter’s cross was easily dealt with and cleared for a throw.

There was controversy in the game when Kermorgant’s header was saved by Ruddy, the ball bounced around in the six yard box and was then handled by Howson on the goal-line. The midfielder was sent off and Reading were awarded a penalty despite Liam Moore having already put the ball in the back of the net.

Kermogant tried to chip Ruddy from the spot and was nearly left red-faced when the ball cannoned back off of the crossbar, luckily McCleary was on hand to tuck home the rebound for Reading on 67 minutes as Kermorgant attempted a bicycle kick.

Roy Beerens struck a half-volley from 20 yards shortly after the sending-off, but Ruddy got down well to his left and made the save. Liam Kelly did well to create space in the box shortly afterwards, but his left-footed volley sailed over the bar.

There was a huge applause around the stadium as John Swift made his highly anticipated return from an ankle injury, the summer-signing replaced Liam Kelly in midfield for the Royals.

Chris Gunter nearly scored a magical goal for Reading shortly afterwards, he curled a left-footed strike from the edge of the box but it sailed wide of Ruddy’s post.

Reading’s players and fans alike were left incensed when Yann Kermorgant was flagged offside in his own half, but luckily for the Royals Norwich failed to capitalise from the resulting free-kick.

Garath McCleary was then sent clean through with 87 minutes played, he cut back onto his right foot and fired the ball straight at John Ruddy, who was able to parry it clear.

But Reading finally wrapped the festive game up with 90 minutes played when John Swift played the ball to Harriott, who took a touch before blasting the ball into the back of the net, courtesy of the near post.

The win kept Reading third in the table with 43 points.