Barnsley FC 1-2 Reading FC: Report In 60 Seconds

Oh what fun is to watch Reading win away, eh? Here's our initial report from Oakwell, with a detailed look back plus player ratings to follow later this weekend.

The key takeaway is that Jaap Stam saw his side extend their unbeaten run to five games with a 2-1 win at high-flying Barnsley. Garath McCleary's penalty rebound plus a stunning strike from John Swift put Reading in control before a McCleary red card and a late goal from Adam Armstrong set up a nervy finish.

Stam elected to make a pair of changes from Tuesday's draw over Birmingham with John Swift in for Stephen Quinn and Tyler Blackett back in the side in place of Jordan Obita, as the Reading boss stuck with a 5-3-2 system.

The game saw chances exchanged early, with Yann Kermorgant going close for Reading and Barnsley slamming the bar through Ryan Kent. Yet it was the Royals who got the opening goal, when Swift was tripped in the box, giving McCleary the chance to fire home our fourth penalty in the first eight games. The Reading winger couldn't beat Adam Davies in the Barnsley net but he was alert enough to put home the rebound.

Chances continued for both sides, in an end-to-end contest but Reading put themselves fully in control thanks to a stunning long-range strike from Swift, for his third goal of the season.

Yet if Reading thought they'd be in for an easy afternoon, a moment of madness from McCleary gave Barnsley some hope as he was sent off for pushing Hourihane after a bad tackle on Danny Williams shortly before the break.

Despite being a man down for the whole of the second-half, Reading remained composed, comfortably keeping their hosts at bay until nine minutes from time when Armstrong pulled one back. Yet we refused to buckle, and picked up a win not just important for the three points but one that shows the resilience and spirit that this side has in its locker that teams over the past few campaigns have lacked.

We'll have more detailed thoughts later on this weekend but in the meantime we can bask in the glow of a fine win.

Reading: Al-Habsi, Blackett, Moore, Evans, McShane, Gunter, Williams, Swift (Obita), McCleary, Beerens (Quinn), Kermorgant (Mendes)