READING: UNITED RUMBLE ROYALS

READING: UNITED RUMBLE ROYALS

Wood and Doukara give United victory.

EFL Championship

Leeds United 2 (Wood 19, Doukara pen 90+1) Reading 0

Chris Wood’s first half strike and a Souleymane Doukara penalty saw Leeds keep up their Play-Off charge at Elland Road.

United were boosted with Liam Bridcutt named on the bench following injury and he was joined by youngster Mallik Wilks for his first inclusion in the squad.

Leeds made a bright start to the match, Kemar Roofe charged into the Reading penalty area before driving across goal in search of Chris Wood, but Ali Al Habsi made a good interception save.

Hadi Sacko then produced an exquisite piece of skill to get into the area before teeing up Roofe, but he could only fire over.

Reading had a good chance in the 18th minute, Garath McCleary managed to get past Pontus Jansson into the penalty area before crossing low for Dominic Samuel, but Kyle Bartley was on hand to make a fantastic interception.

Bartley’s heroics in defence were rewarded a minute later when Leeds took the lead.  Sacko weaved his way in the Reading penalty area before firing low, his cross, come shot deflected into the path of Wood who smashed the ball into the top right corner.

Stuart Dallas then went close with an effort from distance, however he couldn’t direct his shot on target.

Leeds were dealt a blow on the half an hour mark when Wood went down injured with what looked like a hamstring injury. 

With Leeds down to ten men, Dallas had another chance when he countered up the left flank, but his curling effort from the edge of the box didn’t find the target.

With Wood unable to continue, his substitution marked the return of captain Bridcutt from injury.

Reading had a chance before the break when Roy Beerens got to the byline, he put it on a plate for Dominic Samuel to head, but the striker missed the ball.

Half Time: Leeds United 1-0 Reading

Leeds came out of the blocks in the second half, Charlie Taylor put in good cross looking for Sacko, but Al Habi’s intervention denied the winger.

Liam Kelly had a rare Reading shot on goal two minutes later, but he was unable to find the target.

Roofe and Luke Ayling both had shots from distance, but neither were able to test Al Habsi.

Leeds had a really good chance to extend their lead in the 53rd minute, Sacko did really well to break into the Reading box, before crossing to Souleymane Doukara, but the forward couldn’t make the desired contact with the ball.

Two minutes later Sacko was causing trouble again, he put in another fine cross, but it was just out of Doukara’s reach.

Jansson then forced Al Habsi into another save, he headed Dallas’ free-kick at goal, but he couldn’t get the better of the Reading stopper.

Reading almost capitaised on a mistake from Taylor, substitute Yann Kermorgant pounced on a loose pass before putting Beerens in at goal and he forced Rob Green into a really good stop.

The visitors had another chance at a corner, Green making the save to deny Kermorgant’s header on target.

Alex Mowatt then forced Al Habsi into action once again, he was teed up by Sacko on the edge of the box, but his low effort was unable to add to Leeds’ tally.

United were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute, Taylor did brilliantly to work his way into the Reading box from the left flank before being felled.  Doukara stepped up to take the penalty and found the back of the net with a great penalty.

Reading almost pulled a goal back late into added time, when substitute Yakou Meite saw his effort cleared off the line by Jansson with the last kick of the game, to secure Leeds back to back victories and clean sheets at Elland Road.

Full Time: Leeds United 2-0 Reading

Leeds: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Taylor, Vieira, Dallas (Grimes 82), Roofe (Mowatt 69), Sacko, Doukara, Wood (Bridcutt 33).  Subs not used: Cooper, Silvestri, Berardi, Wilks.

Reading: Al Habsi, Gunter, Van Den Berg, McShane, Evans (Meite 78), Beerens, McCleary, Samuel (Kermorgant 61), L. Moore, Blackett, Kelly.  Subs not used: Cooper, Harriott, Wieser, Watson, S. Moore.

Booked: Ayling (Leeds)

Referee: G. Eltringham

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 21, 242

X