Fulham 0-1 Reading

By Richard Hookham

Pearce hacks down Doyle for Reading's penalty

Kevin Doyle's first-half penalty earned Reading a third straight Premiership victory as they held off 10-man Fulham.

Ian Pearce was sent off for a 17th minute foul on Doyle, who got up to slot home his third goal in as many matches with a sweet spot-kick.

Fulham came back into it after the break with Claus Jensen's strike well stopped by Marcus Hahnemann and Collins John heading over from close range.

But the Royals held on to continue their impressive winning sequence.

Interview: Fulham manager Chris Coleman

Interview: Reading manager Steve Coppell

The game started at a lively pace with both sides tentatively prodding at each other's defences.

But Fulham boss Chris Coleman was soon showing his frustrations on the sidelines as Reading took the upper hand and crafted out the best early chances.

Liam Rosenior was forced to clear his lines in acrobatic style for the home side after just five minutes before the visitors finally made their pressure tell.

Glen Little guided the ball over the top for James Harper to chase down the right and his low cross was timed to perfection for Doyle to chase.

606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match

Pearce stretched out a leg but only succeeded in bringing down the livewire striker for which he was duly sent off by referee Dermot Gallagher.

And Doyle then sent Antti Niemi the wrong way from the spot for his third strike in as many Premiership games.

Brian McBride had Fulham's best chance to respond when he met a curling cross from Rosenior, but he was denied by an excellent parry by fellow USA international Hahnemann.

Reading nearly went two ahead when Fulham's Zat Knight flicked the ball over his own crossbar from Graham Murty's cross but they were also given plenty to think about with injuries to two influential players.

First, midfielder Steve Sidwell was forced off after 33 minutes after failing to shake off an earlier injury, to be replaced by Icelandic international Brynjar Gunnarsson.

Then John Oster had to be thrown on by Royals boss Steve Coppell three minutes later when the hard-working Little limped off.

The injury problems then affected Fulham as Franck Queudrue also hobbled off 10 minutes later, to be replaced by Carlos Bocanegra, forming the hosts' third defensive partnership of the afternoon.

But the home side rallied as half-time approached with John wriggling his way to within sight of goal only to be denied by Ivar Ingarmarsson's timely interception.

Manager Coleman sent his side out early for the second half, hoping to inject some much-needed passion.

And it seemed to pay dividends as Jensen immediately tested Niemi from 18 yards.

Tomasz Radzinski and McBride also had good chances to redress the balance for the Cottagers, who had failed to score in just one of their previous seven Premiership matches.

But as the hosts pressed forward they became exposed at the back and nearly conceded again when Ki-Hyeon Seol's cross was knocked over the bar by Oster from six yards.

Coleman went for broke as heavy rain lashed down over Craven Cottage, throwing on substitutes Wayne Routledge and Papa Boupa Diop for Radsinski and the ineffective Michael Brown.

And McBride nearly netted a spectacular equaliser with a rasping 25-yard drive which drifted just wide.

Doyle was denied a second with just minutes to go by the feet of Niemi and it was Reading who finished the stronger as Fulham slumped to their third home defeat of the season.

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Fulham boss Chris Coleman on Reading's penalty: "It was a penalty, I think Ian Pearce would say that himself. But does he need to be sent off as well?

"It wasn't a malicious challenge, he's just got it wrong but I don't think he has to be punished twice.

"I think a penalty can be given and perhaps a yellow card, but unfortunately it wasn't the case."

Reading boss Steve Coppell: "The game obviously lost its thread when the penalty decision was made. The poor old referee - the law is the law but the law is an ass in this situation.

"It's the denial of a goalscoring opportunity so you should replace it with a goalscoring opportunity. The sending off, I don't think, is relevant but Dermot Gallagher had no option.

"From then onwards, the game took on an edge which is not conducive to anything, least of all good football."

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Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Pearce, Knight, Queudrue (Bocanegra 45), Radzinski (Routledge 75), Claus Jensen, Brown (Diop 75), Boa Morte, McBride, John.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Helguson.

Sent Off: Pearce (16).

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little (Oster 38), Sidwell (Gunnarsson 33), Harper, Hunt, Ki-Hyeon (Lita 90), Doyle.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Bikey.

Booked: Harper, Ingimarsson, Sonko.

Goal: Doyle 17 (pen).

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).

Att: 22,673