Reading FC 1-2 Aston Villa: Instant Report

Jaap Stam named an un-changed starting XI from the 1-1 draw against QPR at the weekend, and tonight's game looked to be on course for the same scoreline until Aston Villa netted a late penalty.

There was little action of note in the opening exchanges, with arguably the biggest moment of the first half an hour being the applause in the 28th minute for Jamie Golding, the Y25 season ticket holder who sadly passed away earlier this month.

On the pitch, Villa took the lead in the 38th minute through Jonathan Kodija. Good build-up play between Gary Gardner and Albert Adomah gave the latter the opportunity to cross and find the Frenchman, whose shot towards goal took a huge deflection off Tyler Blackett and creeped over the line past a helpless Ali Al-Habsi.

Less than ten minutes into the second half, Reading were given a chance to equalise as Garath McCleary was brought down in the box to win a penalty. Danny Williams, who scored from the spot against Ipswich, was the man to step up, but saw his effort saved by Pierluigi Gollini. On hand to spare his blushes though was Yann Kermorgant, whose looping header from the rebound made it 1-1.

It seemed as though that would be the way it would finish until ANOTHER penalty was given in the 90th minute, but this time it was in Villa's favour after Liam Moore's foul. Andre Ayew, who had only be substituted on just over 10 minutes previously, scored from the spot to spark wild celebrations amongst the visitors' supporters as Steve Bruce won his first game in charge of the Villains, who won away from home for the first time since August 2015.

Reading line-up: Al-Habsi; Gunter, van den Berg, Moore, Blackett; Evans (Gravenberch 90+1'), Williams, Swift; McCleary, Kermorgant, Beerens

Stay tuned to The Tilehurst End for a full match report and player ratings in the coming days!