Match ends, Reading 1, Northampton Town 0.
ReadingReading1NorthamptonNorthampton Town0
Reading eased their League One relegation fears with a hard-earned home victory over mid-table Northampton.
The Cobblers controlled most of the opening half, with Reading only staying in contention thanks to a series of fine saves from goalkeeper Joel Pereira.
But the home side struck in the 65th minute, with what proved to be the winner, when substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan fired home from an angle after cutting in from the left flank.
Reading, buoyed by the recent news that owner Dai Yongge had agreed "exclusivity" terms with an as-yet unnamed potential buyer of the club, created little in a poor first-half showing.
Ben Elliott, Harvey Knibbs and Sam Smith squandered a string of half-chances before Northampton dominated the remainder of the period - and Pereira had to be at his best.
An alert and agile double save denied Town's 15-goal top scorer Sam Hoskins, with Pereira also keeping out firm efforts from Ben Fox and Louis Appere.
The Royals improved after the break and went ahead when Ehibhatiomhan exchanged passes with Jeriel Dorsett before curling a superb shot past Town keeper Louie Moulden.
It was the tall striker's 11th goal of the season in all competitions.
Northampton tried hard to find an equaliser late on but Reading held firm to secure a vital win in their relegation battle, moving six points clear of the bottom four.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 22Castro Pereira
- 2Mola
- 27Mbengue
- 24Bindon
- 20DorsettSubstituted forAbrefaat 75'minutes
- 29Wing
- 8Savage
- 11AzeezSubstituted forMukairuat 90'minutes
- 7Knibbs
- 4ElliottBooked at 22minsSubstituted forEhibhatiomhanat 59'minutes
- 10Smith
Substitutes
- 1Button
- 3Holmes
- 12Mukairu
- 15Ehibhatiomhan
- 19Wareham
- 30Abrefa
- 36Craig
Northampton
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Moulden
- 3McGowanSubstituted forMcWilliamsat 66'minutes
- 6Sherring
- 5Guthrie
- 12MontheBooked at 4minsSubstituted forKoikiat 82'minutes
- 21Leonard
- 4SowerbySubstituted forSpringettat 75'minutes
- 8Fox
- 11Pinnock
- 9AppéréSubstituted forSimpsonat 76'minutes
- 7HoskinsSubstituted forBowieat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Burge
- 14Koiki
- 16Simpson
- 17McWilliams
- 19Bowie
- 28Springett
- 35Dyche
- Referee:
- Thomas Parsons
- Attendance:
- 15,451
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamNorthampton
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away8
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 1, Northampton Town 0.
Post update
Kelvin Abrefa (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Tyreece Simpson (Northampton Town).
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Hand ball by Shaun McWilliams (Northampton Town).
Post update
Joel Pereira (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Sam Sherring (Northampton Town).
Post update
Attempt saved. Kieron Bowie (Northampton Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mitchell Pinnock with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Paul Mukairu replaces Femi Azeez.
Post update
Femi Azeez (Reading) hits the bar with a header from the left side of the box following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Louie Moulden.
Post update
Attempt saved. Femi Azeez (Reading) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Harvey Knibbs.
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Harvey Knibbs (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ben Fox (Northampton Town).
Post update
Attempt saved. Mitchell Pinnock (Northampton Town) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marc Leonard.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ali Koiki (Northampton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyreece Simpson.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (Reading).
Post update
Foul by Femi Azeez (Reading).
Comments
Join the conversation
Just the delight of potential deductions to outpoint the EFL for until the end of the season.
And a big "Cobblers!" to Dai Jongge too - hope he leaves ASAP ...
Ref: What’s your name son?
Ehibhatiomhan
Ref: Never mind son, don’t do it again
A rather Good Friday indeed.
Ya know what I mean !
See you at the Reebok people.
One wishes fellow Royals and subjects an enjoyable Easter.
It's not a bird, it's not a train, it must be Waylon whose on the plane.....
Ya know what I mean !