Sigurdsson penalty wins it for Royals

A late penalty from Gylfi Sigurdsson gave the Royals all three points against 10 man QPR who had Damion Stewart sent off before the break for two bookable offences.


Brian McDermott restored fit again Andy Griffin to right back in place of Brynjar Gunnarsson, who dropped to the bench, but kept faith with the other 10 players who had beaten Bristol City on Saturday. QPR were unchanged for the fourth successive game under Neil Warnock.


The opening period was fairly open but Brian Howard’s free kick was the closest either side went to scoring, when he shaved the post from fully 30 yards. Adel Taarabt and Jay Simpson went close for the visitors but the main talking point of the half centred on referee Gavin Ward.


Damion Stewart picked up a yellow card for a high foot when challenging Shane Long, however the Irish striker got penalised for the same thing moments earlier and got away with just a talking too. A harsh red card was completed just before the interval when he attempted to block Adam Federici clear the ball quickly after collecting from a corner. Neil Warnock, of course, was incensed and I think for once he might well have had a case!


The game continued with a number of half chances in the second period, Long and Kebe going closest for the Royals whilst Simpson missed a great chance when Federici spilled Hogan Ephraim’s low drive.


Reading were much the better side and pushed hard for the winner with Sigurdsson and Jobi McAnuff having shots cleared off the line.


The goal finally arrived and it was no surprise that it was made, and scored, by Sigurdsson. He produced the moment of magic needed to get three points when he jinked down the goal line beating two men before being brought down in the area by Matt Hill.


He stepped up himself to take the kick, our third in three games, and drilled it into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.


McAnuff could have scored a second when he ran the length of the pitch with the ball at his feet, but just like at Andield, he couldn’t find the finish to score. Kebe also went close in the closing stages but we held out for our 8th win in 9 games, and moving us up to 14th in the table.