Reading stun City

12 April 2012

Relegation battlers Reading boosted their hopes of beating the drop with a 2-0 Barclays Premier League win over Manchester City at Madejski Stadium.

A second-half strike from Shane Long - with new assistant Republic of Ireland manager Liam Brady watching in the stands - and a late goal from substitute Dave Kitson proved enough for a second successive win by the Royals to move out of the bottom three.

City lost captain Richard Dunne to a leg injury, which needed stitches, and also had a strong penalty appeal turned down by referee Uriah Rennie.

The first chance of the game came when Benjani Mwaruwari skipped clear on the right side of the Reading box. However, his final touch was too heavy, falling into the hands of goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

The visitors almost snatched the lead after 24 minutes. A free-kick from the left touchline was sent over by Elano and bounced through to Vedran Corluka, but he could only guide the ball over the bar from five yards with his knee.

City were forced into a change after 30 minutes when Dunne had to be taken off on a stretcher, replaced by Sun Jihai, after an awkward fall following a challenge with Hunt left him with a twisted knee and a gash in his shin.

City midfielder Michael Johnson weaved into the Reading box, and looked to have been tripped by Royals skipper Ivar Ingimarsson. However, Rennie booked the City man for what he saw as a dive.

City had the first chance of the second half but Gelson Fernandes' shot from 25 yards was straight at Hahnemann.

Reading were in front when Long tapped in from five yards following a cutback from Kevin Doyle just after the hour.

And Reading substitute Kitson made sure of victory with a fine solo effort in the 88th minute when he cut in from the right before slotting into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

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