HORNETS’ TWO-GOAL LEAD

Women suffer damaging defeat against relegation rivals

READING FC WOMEN’s survival hopes were dealt a blow after they lost to fellow relegation rivals Liverpool.

The defeat leaves the Royals second bottom of the Women’s Super League on seven points, four points above bottom placed Leicester City who have two games in hand.

Things could have been different for the Royals had they taken the lead, and they went agonisingly close to doing so in the first-half.

Emma Mukandi shifted onto her left foot to put in an inswinging cross that Emma Harries stooped to meet and watched on as her header bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Reading looked confident throughout the first-half and tried to punish Liverpool when Rachel Rowe played a through ball to Sanne Troelsgaard, who seeked to continue her fine scoring form when she took aim from 30 yards with an effort that whistled just over the target.

Ryan Porteous lost his marker from the set piece and was allowed a free header which he accepted gratefully and glanced the ball into the far corner.

Ince made his first change in the 56th minute when Tyrese Fornah replaced Casadei after he failed to make a strong impression on his debut.

Lumley prevented the game from being dead and buried when he got a hand to Matheus Martins’ venomous drive at his near post.

The game took a potential turning point when the referee pointed to the spot after Shane

Long was adjudged to have been taken down by Craig Cathcart in the penalty area.

Ince stepped up to the mark and tucked the penalty into the bottom corner past Bachman to get the Royals back within a goal.

Bilic’s team thought they had restored their two-goal advantage with just over 10 minutes to go when Martins’ effort took a deflection off Britt Assombalonga to beat Lumley.

But after deliberating, the linesman raised his flag to make a late call to disallow the goal with the forward standing in an offside position in front of the goalkeeper.

Things get heated in stoppage time after Joao Pedro’s late tackle

With the atmosphere cranked up a few notches, Reading sensed an opportunity to get something from the game and they snatched it when a deep corner was met by Hendrick who smacked a volley past Bachmann to level the game.

Reading got on the front foot again to try and snatch all three points with Hendrick lurking in the box before a deflection fell the way of Yakou Meite who launched a shot over the target.

The draw leaves Reading in 16th position on 38 points from 29 games. Next up is a trip to Sunderland next Saturday.

Royals Seek Revenge To Try And Fix Away Form

READING FC will be looking to enact revenge on Sunderland on their trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The Royals lost out 3-0 in their earlier meeting with the Black Cats at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Paul Ince’s team boast a strong home record this campaign, but were heavily beaten when Sunderland travelled to Berkshire in September when a Patrick Roberts double and a goal from Jack Clarke saw them go back with all three points.

Sunderland go into the contest in ninth place, four points ahead of Reading and just two points outside the play-off places.

After losing manager Alex Neil, who departed to join Stoke City earlier in the season, Sunderland have managed to regroup and continue a strong push under the experienced Tony Mowbray who was appointed to take over in August.

Despite their recent run of impressive results, Sunderland have fared better on the road than they have in front of their home supporters.

They have suffered as many defeats (five) as they have picked up victories at home so far after 14 matches.

Sunderland have lost just one of their last nine matches in all competitions, which included an away draw at Craven Cottage against Premier League high flyers Fulham in the FA Cup.

They picked up a point on their visit to Millwall last weekend after Dennis Cirkin netted an 81st minute equaliser to ensure they didn’t lose ground on a fellow top six rival.

Sunderland’s top scorer this season has been Ross Stewart who has bagged 10 goals and three assists in 13 Championship appearances.

Reading’s last visit to the Stadium of Light was in December 2017 where the Royals came away with maximum points.

After the hosts were reduced to 10 men, Reading took the initiative and ensured they put Sunderland to the sword with an opener from Dave Edwards and a brace from Modou Barrow to take a 3-1 victory under Jaap Stam. n Kick-off 3pm Saturday

The second-half was a different story and the Reds nudged themselves in front when Missy Bo Kearns got the better of Deanna Cooper in the six yard area and poked the ball into the corner past Jackie Burns to break the deadlock in the 62nd minute.

Liverpool quickly added to their advantage to deal a double blow to the Royals when a long throw was flicked onto the back post and Ceri Holland was left unmarked at the back post to convert from close range.

The damaging defeat means that Reading drop down a place after being overtaken by Brighton & Hove Albion who picked up a point against Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Liverpool moved four points ahead of the Royals with two games still in hand.

Reading are back in action on Sunday, February 26 in the FA Women’s Cup with a fifth round away tie at Tottenham Hotspur.

LIVERPOOL: Laws, Koivisto, Bonner, Matthews, Campbell, Hinds, Kearns, Lawley, Nagano, Holland, Stengel

Subs: Robe, Roberts, Lundgaard, Humphrey, Daniels, Cumings, Kirby, Silcock, Taylor

READING: Burns, Mukandi (c), Cooper, Evans, Woodham, Vanhaevermaet, Moore, Eikeland, Troelsgaard, Rowe, Harries

Subs: Moloney, Bryson, Wade, Hendrix, Jane, Alexander, Poulter, Primmer

Goals: Kearns 62’, Holland 65’