Match ends, Ipswich Town 2, Reading 0.
IpswichIpswich Town2ReadingReading0
Ipswich recorded their first win of 2014 with a 2-0 victory over Reading in a closely-fought Championship game at Portman Road.
Daryl Murphy opened the scoring on 62 minutes with a powerful strike that went in off the underside of the bar.
And the hosts sealed the three points in the 90th minute through a right-footed strike from substitute Paul Anderson into the bottom left corner.
It was the Tractor Boys' first win in seven attempts in all competitions.
The last time Mick McCarthy's side celebrated a victory was their Boxing Day win over Doncaster, but they started strongly against the Royals.
Stephen Hunt nearly scored early on when his volley was cleared off the line by Kaspars Gorkss.
Referee Andy Madley was in the spotlight for denying Reading a penalty when their captain, Jobi McAnuff, was sent sprawling in the penalty area by Luke Chambers.
Reading continued to press and Daniel Williams had the best chance of the first half minutes before the break when his dipping shot from 25 yards forced an excellent save from Ipswich goalkeeper Dean Gerken.
Early in the second half, there was a goal-line scramble when Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was wrong footed but somehow managed to recover to deny Ipswich an opener.
But the hosts eventually took the lead when Murphy scored eighth of the season.
The win was secured in the first of six minutes added on when Anderson confidently finished past McCarthy.
Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy:
"We weren't particularly great in the first half but we were a lot better in the second half and we deserved the win against a good Reading side.
"It was an excellent defensive performance in the second half and keeping a clean sheet was great for them.
"The players were hurt by their performance at Millwall [a 1-0 defeat seven days earlier] so it was nice to come back with a win."
Reading manager Nigel Adkins:
"I thought it was a good Championship game. We did really well in the first half. We were on the front-foot and competitive, but Ipswich were better in the second half.
"We kept going after Murphy's goal and had a few oohs and aahs but the second goal put the game to bed.
"I am looking forward to the second half of the season. The top two looks beyond us but we have players coming back and it will be an exciting end."
Line-ups
Ipswich
Formation 4-4-2
- 22Gerken
- 4Chambers
- 3Cresswell
- 8Skuse
- 6Berra
- 5Smith
- 7EdwardsSubstituted forAndersonat 45'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 16Tunnicliffe
- 10McGoldrickSubstituted forMingsat 90+3'minutes
- 9Murphy
- 12HuntBooked at 54minsSubstituted forTabbat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Loach
- 11Anderson
- 14Wordsworth
- 15Mings
- 18Tabb
- 26Taylor
- 35Nouble
Reading
Formation 4-4-2
- 21McCarthy
- 2Gunter
- 37Obita
- 23Williams
- 5PearceBooked at 50mins
- 17Gorkss
- 12McClearySubstituted forBlackmanat 71'minutes
- 16Akpan
- 9Le Fondre
- 7Pogrebnyak
- 11McAnuff
Substitutes
- 1Federici
- 3Kelly
- 10Drenthe
- 22Blackman
- 24Cummings
- 25Taylor
- 35Hector
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 15,323
Match Stats
Home TeamIpswichAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home4
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ipswich Town 2, Reading 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Pavel Pogrebnyak following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Dean Gerken.
Post update
Attempt saved. Daniel Williams (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nick Blackman (Reading) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Williams.
Booking
Paul Anderson (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Tyrone Mings replaces David McGoldrick.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Aaron Cresswell.
Goal!
Goal! Ipswich Town 2, Reading 0. Paul Anderson (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by David McGoldrick.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nick Blackman (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jordan Obita.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Tunnicliffe (Ipswich Town).
Post update
Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Hand ball by Adam Le Fondre (Reading).
Post update
Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by Kaspars Gorkss.
Post update
Paul Anderson (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jobi McAnuff (Reading).
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by David McGoldrick.
Post update
Foul by Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town).
