Andy Sayer’s tenth goal of the season clinched a 2-1 win over Fulham over Reading at Craven Cottage this evening to end the Royals’ six-match unbeaten run.
Ray Lewington’s side had to come from behind after Trevor Senior had scored his second goal since returning from Middlesbrough to put the visitors in front on twelve minutes. Senior chested down a right-wing cross as the home defence waited for an offside flag that never came and thumped an instinctive finish into the top corner of Jim Stannard’s net.
But Gary Barnett grabbed a deserved equaliser for the hosts eight minutes before the half-time interval. The former Oxford United midfielder punished some poor defending by the Royals after John Marshall’s free-kick had been flicked on by Sean Gore and Barnett burst into the six-yard box untracked to bring Fulham level.
Reading struggled to gain control of the midfield in the second half and their cause was undermined by four bookings, with Linden Jones having to be substituted early in the second half after he lashed out at Fulham winger Clive Walker after the former Chelsea man had stayed down following a challenge between the two players. Sayer then headed wide from a Walker cross as the Whites turned up the heat on the Royals defence.
Their pressure paid off midway through the second half when Sayer tapped home from close range after Mick Tait’s attempt to clear Clive Walker’s cross cannoned off the post and left the Fulham forward with the simplest of finishes. Reading roused themselves to try and find a late equaliser but Stannard saved well from Senior and Les Taylor before Marshall produced a brilliant last-minute tackle to deny substitute Steve Moran.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Gore, Thomas, Marshall, Scott, Barnett, Wilson, Walker, Gordon, Sayer. Subs (not used): Peters, Davies.
GOALS: Barnett (38), Sayer (65).
READING: Phillips; Elsey, Gernon, Beavon, Hicks, Tait, Jones (Knight 51), Taylor, Senior, Conroy (Moran 68), Gilkes.
BOOKED: Beavon, Senior, Tait, Jones.
GOAL: Senior (12).
REFEREE: Mike Reed (Birmingham).
ATTENDANCE: 6,934.
