Cardiff sneak win over Royals

Cardiff City got their third straight win at the Madejski Stadium Saturday afternoon, as they beat Brian McDermott`s Reading 2-1 in a lively encounter. A super strike from Peter Whittingham and a goal from Mark Hudson gave the Welsh side the victory, despite a late reply from Jimmy Kebe.

The visitors started the game much the brighter and look an early shock lead in the second minute. The Royals defence struggled to get the ball clear after Federici made decent saves from Miller and Conway before Peter Whittingham hit a fantastic 30-yard strike which came as a surprise to Adam Federici.

The response from Reading was a good one, with dangerous set-pieces from Joseph Mills causing problems for Bluebirds goalkeeper David Marshall. Noel Hunt was brought into the team following his winner against Birmingham in the last game and had a decent chance ten minutes into this one as he was played in over the top but his shot was deflected wide.

Hunt then had another effort but with this one less cleat cut, as his 25-yard drive was palmed over by the Cardiff keeper. Australian international Federici was called into action again soon after as he tipped over a free-kick to stop Whittingham getting his second of the afternoon.

With the half coming to an end, contract rebel Jimmy Kebe went on a surging 50-yard run and put a dangerous ball into the box but was sniffed out well by Kevin McNaughton. Despite the Royals pressure and two decent penalty claims turned down, Cardiff went in at half-time with the lead.

The officials were to come into the limelight again as it appeared that the Royals equalised, only to be denied by the linesman flag that was raised for offside against Jimmy Kebe ghosting in at the back-post from McAnuff`s cross.

The home side kept the majority of the possession but had nothing to show, as the Bluebirds doubled their lead at the Madejski on 70 minutes. A free-kick was not followed up on by the Reading defence but defender Mark Hudson did as his tap-in put the South Wales fans into dreamland.

A comeback would not have been far off what Brian McDermott`s men are capable of and it appeared to be on with 12 minutes to go. Le Fondre found himself out wide and put in an inviting ball with Marshall failing to get there and Jimmy Kebe getting in ahead to nod home.

McDermott responded by bring on Mathieu Manset and Hal Robson-Kanu but the Welsh side were holding their own, keeping the ball well. With minutes to go Cardiff broke down the left and the ball found its way to Don Cowie from 15-yards out but Federici kept it out fantastically.

The game finished 2-1 to the Bluebirds, with most fans feeling Reading were hard done by, despite the experience in front of goal for Cardiff.

Reading: Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Mills, Kebe, Leigertwood, Karacan, McAnuff, Le Fondre, Hunt

Subs: Andersen, Harte, Robson-Kanu, Church, Manset

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Turner, Hudson, Taylor, Cowie, Kiss, Gunnarsson, Conway, Whittingham, Miller

Subs: Heaton, Gerrard, McPhail, Mason, Earnshaw