Reading 3 - 2 Peterborough United - Match Report

Reading 3 - 2 Peterborough United
Location: Madejski Stadium
Date: 28th August, 2012
Attendance: 7,262

Posh have now lost four games in a row after a 3-2 defeat at premier league new boys, Reading.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson made a number of changes to the line-up that played against Leeds, resting Gaby Zakuani, Lee Frecklington and Craig Alcock. And it was Posh`s new look team that started the brighter of the two sides, keeping possession well and pressing Reading high up the pitch.

And it was Posh that took the lead, when Nat Knight-Percival cleared long, and Paul TAYLOR took control of it. He ran with the ball and fired a shot past Federici and into the back of the net from the edge of the box to give Posh the upper hand

But their lead didn`t last long. Pavel POGREBNYAK scrambled the ball over the line after a defensive mix up meant Posh couldn`t clear it. So 1-1 after 16 minutes, that`s all of the action for now, right? Wrong! It was 2-1 to Posh just a minute later when Lee TOMLIN drilled his shot into the goal, and put Posh back in front.

And that wasn`t the end of it! Former Nottingham Forest full back Chris GUNTER crossed the ball in with his left foot, but it somehow beat the defenders, and Olejnik in the Posh goal, to make it 2-2 after 19 minutes! George Boyd had a chance to make it 3-2 just seconds later as he went 1-on-1 with Reading`s Australian keeper Adam Federici, but he saved well to deny Boyd.

Central defender Shaun Brisley went off after 26 minutes with an injury, Joe Newell came on in his place. This saw Michael Bostwick move to centre back.

The game went quiet for a little while, until the 38th minute, when another defensive mix up saw Nathaniel KNIGHT-PERCIVAL (pictured below) score an own goal on his competitive debut.

Half-time: Reading 3 - 2 Peterborough United

No changes were made at half time, and both sets of fans were hoping for more of the same, as it had been a truly entertaining first half.
Knight-Percival did well to deny former Forest winger Garath McCleary a chance. In the first notable action of the second half. McCleary was then withdrawn by Reading, and was replaced by Noel Hunt.

20 minutes played in the second half, and not a lot had happened. But George Boyd put his effort over the bar after a great cross by Mark Little, who had a very good game returning to the starting line-up. Posh started to take control again, passing the ball around and making Reading chase it.

Danny Swanson, formerly of Dundee United, cheekily nut-megged his opponent, who had no choice but to concede a free kick. Grant McCann took it, but curled it wide of the mark.

10 minutes left, and Reading just seemed happy to defend and see out the score as it was, Pogrebnyak partially cleared a McCann corner, but only as far as Tomlin. His cross come shot went over everyone and out for a goal kick to the home side.

Federici made a number of decent saves as the game entered the last few minutes, Posh desperately trying to get the equaliser they needed. Sinclair came on to give Posh another option, and caused a few problems down the right hand side.

Full-time: Peterborough United 1 - 2 Leeds United

Posh: Olejnik, Little, Brisley (Newell 26 mins), Knight-Pervical, Ntlhe (Sinclair 83 mins), Bostwick, McCann, Swanson, Boyd, Tomlin, Taylor.
Unused subs: Day, Richens, Grant, Clarke-Harris, Gordon-Hutton.

Reading: Federici, Gunter, Gorkss, Pearce, Harte, McCleary (Hunt 62 mins), Karacan (Tabb 72 mins), Leigertwood, Guthrie, McAnuff, Pogrebnyak
Unused subs: McCarthy, Shorey, Mariappa, Cummings, Le Fondre.

Referee: Andy D`Urso

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