Northampton 0-2 Reading

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Two breakaway goals condemned Northampton to a home defeat against Reading.

The Cobblers fell to their sixth home defeat in a game they could and should have taken something from.

Following a goalless first half, Reading broke the deadlock after 53 minutes when former England winger John Salako crossed for Jamie Cureton to score from close range.

Some late pressure from Northampton saw Daryl Burgess and Richard Hope foiled by goal-line clearances by Graeme Murty while Jamie Forrester was just inches wide from a deserved equaliser.

But with time running out substitute Neil Smith sent Martin Butler clear and he grabbed a second goal deep in stoppage-time.

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Northampton: Welch, Burgess, Sampson, Hope, Spedding, Marsh, Hunt, Frain, Hargreaves, Forrester, McGregor. Subs: Gabbiadini, Hunter, Sollitt, Asamoah, Dempsey.

Reading: Whitehead, Murty, Williams, Viveash, Shorey, Hughes, Harper, Watson, Salako, Butler, Cureton. Subs: Forster, Neil Smith, Ashdown, Henderson, Alex Smith.

Referee: P Rejer (Tipton).