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By @Jonny Chick
Jack Harrison's late header managed to seal the three points for Leeds United, the first time ever that a Leeds side has managed to win back-to-back games away at the Madejski.
Marcelo Bielsa named two changes to his side that beat Luton Town 2-1 on Saturday. Skipper Liam Cooper replaced Bererdi in central defence while Jamie Shackleton made his way back onto the bench after recently recovering from injury.
Leeds United flew out of the traps and caused Reading problems within the first minute. Liam Cooper made an inch perfect switch to full back Luke Ayling who’s cross was audaciously flicked over the bar by Patrick Bamford.
The half wasn’t the most entertaining for either side, with Leeds having most of the possession. Multiple misplaced passes were both sides fault in front of goal.
Reading fashioned their own attacks. A ball flashed across the face of United’s goal and Meite couldn’t slide in at the back post to give the home side the advantage.
The game was crying out for a clear cut chance and it finally came late on in the half when Meite met a Swift corner and his header was saved by Kiko Casilla.
Leeds’ best chances were only half chances. Ben White had a left footed shot from a corner wide of the post and Bamford and Dallas had both set there sights from the edge of the penalty area, but both strikes were blocked by Reading defenders.
0-0 at half time.
The second half was started better by Leeds who continued to keep possession and attempt to get into Reading’s final third. Ben White played an excellent reverse ball to Luke Ayling who drove into the penalty area and the challenge by Liam Moore was deemed not to be a penalty by the referee.
There was a distinct lack of shots in the game but both teams calved out half chances in the second half. Klich whipped in an enticing ball but Bamford’s tame header at the back post caused no problems for the Reading defence.
Then by far the bets chance of the game fell to Leeds midway the second half. Dallas received a one two with Jack Harrison before curling a wonderful strike towards goal and would’ve given Leeds the lead had it not been for the crossbar.
Dallas’ effort woke Reading up who had their best chance of the game so far. A free kick wasn’t blocked by Bamford, the ball made its way into the penalty area where Phillips made a last-ditch tackle to deny Meite and Morrison’s effort from point blank range was skewed over.
Both sides looked to break the deadlock as Ben White fashioned his second chance from a corner as he turned and fired over the bar.
Substitute Alioski found Dallas charging forward into the penalty area but his volley found the side netting, a very good chance for Leeds.
But three minutes from time Leeds made the breakthrough. After Reading free-kick was saved by Kiko Casilla, Jack Harrison started the move by finding Alioksi on the right wing, he then laid the ball off to Helder Costa who's deflected cross from the right fell into the path of Jack Harrison who nodded in the winner from close range.
It was another late victory for Leeds but grinding out results is the stuff of champions.
Match Information
Reading vs Leeds United
Sky Bet Championship
20:00 Tuesday 26th November 2019
Madejski Stadium
Reading (5-3-2): Rafael, Gunter, Miazga, Morrison, Moore, Richards, Swift, Rinomhota (McCleary 90), Ejariam Meite (Loader 86), Puscas (Boye 70).
Leeds (3-3-1-3): Casilla, Ayling, White, Cooper, Phillips, Klich (Alioksi 66), Dallas, Roberts (Costa 35), Hernandez, Harrison (Shackleton 90), Bamford.
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