Yann is the man for superb Royals comeback

It’s one of those away days you won’t forget in a hurry! An outstanding comeback from Jaap Stam’s Reading in the final eighteen minutes from two goals down gave the Royals a third straight victory.

Stam made two changes from the abandoned game against Fulham three days previous, with Swift and McShane coming in for Liam Kelly and the injured Harriott. A strong looking line-up on paper and it was Reading who dictated most of the play in the opening stages, keeping the ball away from the hosts, but failed to produce any memorable chances.

Joe Bryan had the first effort of the game as he broke forward after a neat move from the hosts, but his effort was always rising from 25 yards. Swifty had our first shot on target in the game, as a swift break (to pardon the pun) allowed the midfielder a good angle to strike at goal, but couldn’t get enough conviction on his left-footed effort.

Reading were finally getting into their stride and McCleary was the next player to take aim, but his low strike from the edge of the area was easy for Fielding to deal with. Despite being on top, we were to blame for our eventual downfall just shy of the half hour mark, as a poor pass from Al-Habsi to McShane was taken advantage of by the busy Bryan.

The midfielder bore down on goal with the Royals stretched, his effort from the edge of the area was parried by Al-Habsi, but straight into the path of the on-rushing Abraham who wasn’t going to miss. A really poor goal for the away side to concede, especially when we were well on top and looked the more likely to score.

A good break from Reading led to their best chance of the half, as the ball was eventually worked to Beerens on the left side and his enticing cross was attacked by Williams at the back post, but shanked his effort wide. The midfielder seemed to panic slightly as he seemingly had time to take a touch and pick his spot in the area, but did the opposite.

The Royals really should have gone in level at the break, as Blackett’s looping cross was attacked in typically good fashion by Kermorgant, but his header thundered off the under-side of the crossbar and away. A big let off for the home side and a clear sign that Stam’s side were still well in this game, as they went in at half time.

The travelling faithful at Ashton Gate would have wanted a response from their side, but got quite the opposite and it was another goal conceded in kamikaze fashion again. A sloppy pass in midfield allowed Freeman to drive at the Royals backline, he slipped the ball into O’Dowda, but in WWE style was clotheslined by the oncoming Blackett in the area.

Unsurprisingly, the referee Roger East pointed to the penalty spot with just two minutes played of the second period. Tammy Abraham stepped up and sent Al-Habsi the wrong way to continue his good goalscoring form and left it all for Reading to do. Reading were pressing the hosts back, but struggled to break them down to get back into it.

The introductions of Liam Kelly and Jordan Obita seemed to galvanise the visitors to get back into the game and had a lifeline with eighteen minutes to play. McCleary had the beating of his marker and pulled it back for Kelly, who swivelled and finished very well for his first professional goal, a great moment for the academy graduate.

Lee Johnson’s men couldn’t get out of their own half and the equaliser deservedly came with four minutes of normal time remaining. Kelly once again was the architect, as he found a pocket of space in Bristol’s compact midfield – he laid the ball across for Kermorgant who used the pace on the ball to finish first time into the corner.

A fantastic finish from the Frenchman and it seemed it would finish with a share of the points, but this Royals side weren’t content with just that! As per the last thirty minutes, City were camped in their half and Reading were remaining patient. It was neat and patient build up eventually, until Williams set Yann Kermorgant 25 yards from goal.

The forward took aim and despite his low effort not carrying much power, it had enough direction to beat Fielding across his goal and send the Royals faithful behind the goal into raptures. It looked almost impossible to get something from the game with twenty minutes remaining, but this side don’t seem to know when they’re beaten – an outstanding comeback.

It keeps the Royals third in the table, as other teams were hot on the heels of Stam’s men, as the play-off and promotion race remains very tight. A good result now takes the pressure off ahead of the FA Cup game at Manchester United on Saturday – hopefully the boys can go there full of confidence and play without fear, who knows what could happen?

Bristol City – 4-5-1: Fielding; Little, Matthews, Flint, Goldbourne; Bryan, Freeman, Brownhill, Smith, O’Dowda; Abraham.
Subs: Tomlin, O’Donnell, Engvall, Reid, Wilbraham, Paterson, Kelly.

Reading – 4-3-3: Al-Habsi; Gunter, McShane, Moore, Blackett; Van den Berg, Williams, Swift; McCleary, Kermorgant, Beerens.
Subs: Moore, Cooper, Obita, Evans, Kelly, Meite, Samuel.