Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Reading 2.
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Reading
- From the section Football
Inigo Calderon's last-minute equaliser gave Brighton a point against Reading in the Seagulls' first match since Sami Hyypia resigned as manager.
Reading had the lead when Glenn Murray turned in Hal Robson-Kanu's cross, and he doubled his tally by heading in Oliver Norwood's free-kick.
The Seagulls, under the charge of caretaker Nathan Jones, pulled one back through Jake Forster-Caskey's effort.
And Calderon converted Adrian Colunga's 90th-minute delivery to earn a draw.
Despite the late goal, Brighton slipped to 23rd in the Championship, while Reading earned their first point under new boss Steve Clarke.
After Hyypia resigned on Monday following one win in 18 league games, former first-team coach Jones took caretaker charge, but his reign got off to a terrible start as Murray fired home at the second attempt following Robson-Kanu's break down the left.
| Royals on top |
|---|
| Brighton have won only one of the last 10 meetings between the two sides in all competitions. Their only win since 2003 was 1-0 at home in the FA Cup in January. |
Referee Graham Salisbury waved away a strong penalty shout when Lewis Dunk barged over Royals forward Simon Cox.
But Murray, on loan from Crystal Palace, then scored his eighth goal in a Reading shirt with a powerful downward header.
The hosts struggled to gain a foothold, but a long throw from Greg Halford was nodded on by Dunk and Forster-Caskey forced the ball in to give his side a lifeline.
With Brighton in the ascendency, Adrian Colunga hit a post from another throw-in and Reading keeper Adam Federici had to be at his best to deny long-range strikes from Danny Holla and Joe Bennett.
Substitute Solly March thought he had equalised, but his glancing header was turned away by the goalkeeper.
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Federici looked to have denied the hosts anything from the game, but captain Calderon had other ideas, drilling home from 10 yards.
Brighton interim manager Nathan Jones: "I don't know if I'll be in charge again but I'll prepare the team until I hear otherwise.
"We should have won that game. We shot ourselves in the foot with the goals we conceded but apart from that the lads gave me everything and I'm very proud."
Reading boss Steve Clarke: "Last year, I lost my job at West Brom just before Christmas so it's good to be back in and the players are giving everything.
"It's a start to get a draw and you're learning all the time. We got out of the blocks really quickly and were good value for our two-goal lead, but then got undone by long throws and were punished."
Line-ups
Brighton
- 13Stockdale
- 14Calderon
- 33Halford
- 5Dunk
- 30BennettBooked at 58mins
- 19Gardner
- 22HollaSubstituted forMcCourtat 76'minutes
- 18Forster-Caskey
- 32BennettSubstituted forMarchat 62'minutes
- 39BentSubstituted forMackail-Smithat 30'minutes
- 7Colunga
Substitutes
- 4Hughes
- 12Mackail-Smith
- 15Chicksen
- 20McCourt
- 24Ince
- 27March
- 31Walton
Reading
- 1Federici
- 2Gunter
- 15Hector
- 5Pearce
- 11Obita
- 25TaylorSubstituted forCummingsat 59'minutesBooked at 61mins
- 6NorwoodBooked at 90mins
- 23Williams
- 9Robson-KanuSubstituted forKellyat 81'minutes
- 10CoxBooked at 38mins
- 20MurrayBooked at 44minsSubstituted forBlackmanat 59'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Kelly
- 22Blackman
- 24Cummings
- 27Tanner
- 28Kuhl
- 31Andersen
- 35Cooper
- Referee:
- Graham Salisbury
- Attendance:
- 26,173
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away4
- Corners
- Home9
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away18
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Reading 2.
Foul by Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Oliver Norwood (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Stephen Kelly.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Gary Gardner (Brighton and Hove Albion) because of an injury.
Booking
Oliver Norwood (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Gary Gardner (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Oliver Norwood (Reading).
Goal!
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Reading 2. Íñigo Calderón (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adrián Colunga.
Attempt saved. Joe Bennett (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Greg Halford tries a through ball, but Craig Mackail-Smith is caught offside.
Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nick Blackman (Reading).
Íñigo Calderón (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Simon Cox (Reading).
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Solly March.
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Joe Bennett.
Attempt blocked. Nick Blackman (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Simon Cox.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Stephen Kelly replaces Hal Robson-Kanu.
Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Shaun Cummings (Reading).
Foul by Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Simon Cox (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Greg Halford (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nick Blackman (Reading).
Attempt missed. Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Adrián Colunga with a headed pass.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Paddy McCourt replaces Danny Holla.
Gary Gardner (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nick Blackman (Reading).
Attempt blocked. Gary Gardner (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jake Forster-Caskey with a cross.
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Alex Pearce.
Foul by Gary Gardner (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Nick Blackman (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Adam Federici.
Attempt blocked. Gary Gardner (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Greg Halford (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Michael Hector (Reading).
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Solly March.