Amadou Mbengue scored the winner to help Reading produce one of the narrow football results of the weekend in the Championship. Both goalkeepers had to make saves in the cagey first half to hold the score at 0-0. Callum O’Hare was wonderfully stopped by Joe Lumley of Reading, and Ben Wilson of Coventry successfully stopped a powerful header from Yakou Meite. Amadou Mbengue, a Frenchman, assisted on Reading’s first goal to put Coventry behind early in the second half. The hosts held on with reasonable ease, and City, despite their best efforts, was unable to provoke a fightback.
However, the first opportunity was made by the hosts when Tom Ince discovered a gap 20 yards away. However, his attempt was completely off course and did not disturb Wilson. After receiving treatment twice on the field, Reading’s center-back Tom Holmes was injured after just 14 minutes and was replaced by Tom McIntyre. City altered their defense after sensing that Reading would be exposed, but Ben Sheaf drove high over from a good position. In addition, O’Hare made a superb low stop from Lumley as the visitors picked up the pace. Gustavo Hamer missed the target with his set-piece attempt just before the half after Coventry won a risky free kick on the outskirts of the home area.
Reading responded right away, as Wilson had to move deftly to block Meite’s looping header from an Ince cross. After the break, Coventry played with more energy and defender Michael Rose was unfortunate not to score when he glanced a Hamer corner against the back post. Then, Lumley had to respond quickly to repel an O’Hare effort. However, City’s efforts were in vain as they fell behind after an Ince corner in the 57th minute. Mbengue pounced from close range and headed in off the underside of the crossbar after McIntyre gave it the go-ahead. Sheaf and Callum Doyle’s late comeback attempts failed to trouble Lumley, despite Coventry’s best efforts.
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