Sky Bet Championship

Reading 0

Leeds United 1 (Harrison, 87)

Reading: Cabral, Gunter, Morrison, Miazga, Moore, Rinomhota (McCleary 90), Swift, Richards, Ejaria, Meite (Loader 86), Puscas (Boye 70).  Subs not used: Walker, Howe, Blackett, Gomes.

Leeds: Casilla, Ayling, Cooper, White, Dallas, Phillips, Klich (Alioski 66), Roberts (Costa 34), Harrison (Shackleton,90), Hernandez, Bamford.  Subs not used: Meslier, Douglas, Clarke.

Booked: Richards (Reading), Ayling (Leeds)

Referee: D. Bond

Venue: Madejski Stadium

Attendance: 16,918 (2,050 Leeds)

A late Jack Harrison header ensured Leeds United made it seven games unbeaten in the Sky Bet Championship, with a 1-0 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Marcelo Bielsa made one change to the side which beat Luton Town on Saturday, with skipper Liam Cooper returning in place of Gaetano Berardi.

Leeds made a bright start to the match, Luke Ayling delivered a good cross from the right flank and Patrick Bamford made contact with the ball, but not enough to direct an attempt on target.

Reading had a great chance to go in front inside three minutes, the Royals caught Leeds on the break and Yakou Meite put in a lovely low cross into the Whites box, but George Puscas couldn’t make contact when well placed.

Neither side created any clear cut chances after the lively start, but in the 32^nd minute the Whites were dealt an injury blow and Tyler Roberts had to be replaced with Helder Costa taking his place.

Ben White had an opportunity for the Whites following a Kalvin Phillips free kick, he tried to hook an effort towards goal, but didn’t test Rafael Cabral.

The hosts nearly took the lead four minutes from the break from a corner.  John Swift delivered the set piece and Meite saw a header well saved by Kiko Casilla.

Just before the break Stuart Dallas struck on goal and he appealed for a penalty insisting his strike hit a Reading hand, but referee Darren Bond waved away his protests as the two sides went in level at the break.

Half time: Reading 0-0 Leeds United

After the break, Cooper had a decent opportunity following a Kalvin Phillips corner, but he couldn’t direct a header on target.

Mateusz Klich then delivered a dangerous cross from the right, but Bamford who didn’t know much about it under pressure from the Reading defence couldn’t turn it home from close range.

Puscas blazed over an effort from a narrow angle for the hosts, before Dallas hit a spectacular strike from 30 yards, but saw his attempt cannon back out off the crossbar.

The home side then threatened from a free kick when the ball fell to Michael Morrison in the Whites area, but he could only fire the good opportunity over the bar.

Leeds substitute Ezgjan Alioski put a decent cross in from the left, with Dallas forcing Cabral into a good stop, before White scuffed an effort over after a Phillips corner.

Dallas again went close in the 72^nd minute, Alioski played a lovely through ball which was met on the volley by the Northern Ireland international, but his strike went into the side netting.

Phillips drilled a corner out to Hernandez on the edge of the box but he saw his volley deflect wide.

With three minutes remaining Leeds took the lead, Costa whipped a ball to the back post and Harrison converted fantastically.

The Whites held on and took the three points back from Berkshire to go to the top of the table.

Full time: Reading 0-1 Leeds United