Reading continue their play-off push

Yann Kermorgant’s superb 21st minute strike secured a second successive win for the Royals who could and perhaps should have won by more.

There has been no love lost between the teams since Royals lost at Elland Road in December, sparking a war of words between Jaap Stam and Leeds counterpart Garry Monk.

That added a feisty edge to tonight’s televised clash that drew a near sell-out crowd and threatened to boil over after Leeds fans hurled bottles in the direction of Reading keeper Ali Al-Habsi.

In addition to that Leeds defender Liam Cooper could face retrospective punishment from the Football Association after appearing to stamp on Reece Oxford’s head.

The FA may also take a look at a possible elbow by Reading’s Tyler Blackett on Leeds star striker, Chris Wood.

But those unsavoury incidents should not detract from a top-notch performance from the Royals, who opened up a seven-point gap on seventh-placed Sheffield Wednesday after the Owls were knocked out of the play-off positions by Fulham.

Stam made one change from the side that won Hillsborough before the international break with Liam Kelly replacing the injured Joey van den Berg.

With Paul McShane still nursing a sore hamstring, Blackett joined Liam Moore in the heart of defence, with Kermorgant up front.

Leeds, however, received a massive boost when 24-goal Wood passed a fitness test after picking up a knock on New Zealand duty.

That in itself had added fuel to the fire when Kermorgant cheekily suggested the All Whites had no plan B without their talisman.

As it was, Wood was forced to live of scraps for the majority of the game and rarely looked like adding to his impressive tally.

Royals threatened first when Roy Beerens linked up with John Swift in the seventh minute only for the England Under 21 midfielder to sky his shot over the bar having done the hard work.

It took Leeds another 11 minutes to create their first opening when Alfonso Pedraza dragged one wide after Blackett’s clearance went straight to him.

But Reading just about had the edge when Kermorgant fired them ahead with a blistering strike in the 21st minute.

Garath McCleary attempted to pick out Chris Gunter’s run with a quick throw in and, with Leeds under pressure, Cooper’s clearing headed landed at Kermorgant’s feet.

But the Frenchman still had plenty to do as his fierce first-time shot from 18 yards flew into the roof of the net despite Rob Green getting a faint touch.

It was Kermorgant’s 11th goal of the season and few will have been more satisfying than this one.

Leeds searched for an immediate response, but Gunter and Ali Al-Habsi did enough between them to snuff out Pedraza in a dangerous spot.

But they also lost some of their voice as Reading continued to hustle them off the ball.

However, Stam’s men blew two excellent chances to double their lead within the space of a minute.

Swift, who was pulling the strings, slipped in Beerens with a beautiful pass, but the Dutchman couldn’t keep phis shot down with only Green to beat.

Then moments later an ever better slide-rule ball from Swift split the Leeds defence and sent McCleary scampering clear and one-on-one with Green. Sadly, McCleary held on too long and Green saved with his legs.

They almost proved costly as Leeds went close to an equaliser a minute after that, Pablo Hernandez steering Pedraza’s fine cross high and wide of the far post at full stretch.

Yet the visitors breathed another sigh of the relief on the stroke of half time when Kermorgant’s drilled low drive from the edge of the box against the post with Green well beaten.

Monk had his work cut out at half time. Reading had been superior in every department and should have been more than one goal ahead.

But the home side remained on the front foot after the restart, Kermorgant clever back-heeled effort deflecting wide after neat work from Beerens, Gunter and finally McCleary.

Such were the depths of Leeds’ frustrations that a fan behind their goal appeared to throw a plastic bottle at Al-Habsi, who calmly emptied its contents before handing it to a steward.

Reading, though, continued to spurn golden opportunities.

Beerens found himself with only Green to beat in the 56th minute after a lovely pass from Kermorgant, but again his final touch let him down allowing Green to gather.

Leeds began to offer more of an attacking threat as their Reading-born skipper Liam Bridcutt tested Al-Habsi from 20 yards. Then moments later Cooper scooped an off-balance effort over the bar from a corner.

But Royals continued to look more dangerous and it took a decent save from Green to tip Kermorgant’s header over the bar from Swift’s free-kick.

Suddenly, tempers began to fray as Cooper appeared to stamp on the head of Reading substitute Oxford with 15 minutes to go. But referee Keith Stroud consulted with his linesman before taking no action with both seemingly unsighted.

Reading, though, refused to back down and stood firm in the face of late Leeds pressure.

With eight minutes to go a deep cross found Ronaldo Viera, but his shot lacked power and Al-Habsi collected.

Sadly, the game threatened to turn even uglier as the clocked reached 90 minutes and another bottle was tossed in Al-Habsi’s direction.

But that was about all Leeds had left to throw at Stam’s men who saw out six added minutes without too much fuss to claim a memorable victory.

However, the ramifications of tonight’s full-blooded clash could continue if the FA decide to look at Cooper’s apparent stamp and Blackett’s apparent elbow.

Reading are home again on Tuesday night (8pm) when they hosts Blackburn Rovers.