HENDRICK STUNNER WIPES OUT

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC overturned a two-goal deficit against Watford after a stunning Jeff Hendrick volley 10 minutes from time earned them a point.

Goals either side of half-time from Ismaila Sarr and Ryan Porteous put the Hornets into a commanding lead.

But after Shane Long drew a foul to win a penalty which Tom Ince tucked away, momentum was with the home side.

Hendrick connected deliciously on the volley to blast a shot past Daniel Bachmann to wipe out Watford’s two-goal lead.

There was a full league debut for Chelsea loanee Cesare Casadei who was thrown straight into the mix having just arrived last week, while Andy Carroll missed out through suspension.

In an uneventful start to proceedings, neither side were able to impose themselves to find a breakthrough.

The first big chance of the match was carved out by Tom Ince.

Shane Long was set free on the left wing and looked inside to find Ince who cut onto his left and his low drive looked to be headed for the bottom corner, but Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann got fingertips to the shot to keep it out.

The Hornets responded with their first decent opening a few minutes later when Sarr was given time to work the ball on his right and try to dig out a shot into the far corner that drifted just wide of Joe Lumley’s goal.

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By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC assistant manager Alex Rae was pleased with the team’s resolve after they overcame a two-goal deficit to draw with Watford.

Jeff Hendrick hit the equaliser with a thunderous volley to see the Royals complete the turnaround.

“The equaliser through Jeff, It was a terrific strike,” said Rae.

“We take the point and move on. It was a recognition from Thomas who saw Jeff with his hand up at the back post.

“The ball travelled 45 or 50 yards, To take it and execute it, we’re delighted with that.

Match stats

READING: Lumley, Holmes, McIntyre, Yiadom (c), Mbengue, Hoilett, Loum, Hendrick, Casadei, Ince, Long

SUBS: Bouzanis, Dann, Joao, Meite, Azeez, Guiness-Walker, Fornah

WATFORD: Bachmann, Gaspar, Choudhury, Davis, Kamara, Cathcart (c), Araujo, Porteous, Sarr, Bacunan, Martins

SUBS: Hamer, Pedro, Kone, Assombalonga, Morris, Hoedt, Adeyemo

GOALS: Sarr 30’, Porteous 48’, Ince 66’ (pen), Hendrick 80’

“Sometimes you have to think outside the box so it’s very pleasing.”

Things could have been different as Watford were denied by a very late offside Call to disallow a goal that would have put them 3-1 in front.

Speaking on the incident, Rae said: “It’s a great call from the linesman. He was a yard in front of him blocking his eyeline.

“It was an easy enough decision to make, but thankfully he did call it because we’ve seen a few that have been missed.

“The introductions of the subs helped us. Femi (Azeez) came on and had a big impact.

With his next chance, Sarr punished Reading from point blank range when he found an inch of room in the six-yard box to latch onto Henrique Araujo’s low cross and find the net.

Royals defender Amadou Mbengue picked up the first yellow card of the game when he clipped the back of Sarr’s heels when he was released down the left after Hassane Kamara picked a smart pass following his surging run from his own half.

CHAMPIONSHIP ALEX RAE: ‘WE SHOWED SPIRIT IN ABUNDANCE’

“It’s a brilliant group of boys, they’re brilliant to work with and show a lot of spirit.

“We had that in abundance today.

“There wasn’t a great deal in the first half so it was disappointing. Unfortunately we lost a goal at a set play and we have to defend that moment better.

“It was an uphill task from there, but the character the boys showed was brilliant.

“They worked their way back into it and they easily could have folded at that stage.

Reading’s final chance in a threadbare half came with a freekick from 25 yards that Ince lined up wide on the right, but his shot flew harmlessly over the top as the visitors went into the break with an advantage.

Watford then threatened when Sarr had another shot at goal, but Lumley did well to close down his angle and save with his body.

But from the resulting corner, the Hornets doubled their lead.

“We had some words with them at half-time.

“We switched off structurally and got picked off.If you do that at this level, you get punished.”

“In the 88th minute we had an opportunity we could have capitalised with, but they will feel as though they could have nicked it as well.

“It’s another point on the board and our home form has been pretty decent.”