Match ends, Burnley 1, Reading 2.
BurnleyBurnley1ReadingReading2
Reading scored twice in the opening nine minutes against Burnley to earn their fourth away win in a row and move third in the Championship.
They led when Nick Blackman slotted home from Hal Robson-Kanu's back-heel.
It was soon 2-0 as Chelsea loanee Lucas Piazon finished a fine counter-attack for his first Reading goal.
The hosts pulled one back when Tendayi Darikwa tapped in at the back post from Scott Arfield's delivery, but a first home defeat drops them to sixth.
With his side lacking in creativity, Clarets manager Sean Dyche brought on former QPR midfielder Joey Barton for his debut, but Darikwa's first goal for the club was as good as it got for the home side.
They were undone by a fine start from the Royals, who took the lead when Burnley defender Michael Keane failed to clear, allowing Wales international Robson-Kanu to brilliantly set up Blackman, who calmly finished into the corner.
Steve Clarke's side then produced a superb passing move, with Chris Gunter putting in a low right-wing cross for Brazilian Piazon to score on his fourth Royals appearance.
Burnley, who had begun the day third in the table, saw Michael Kightly force visiting keeper Jonathan Bond into a fine save, but that was as close as they came in the first half.
After Darikwa's goal, Burnley forward Sam Vokes' deflected strike was parried by Bond, but the Clarets needed Darikwa to clear off the line from Blackman.
At the other end, Oliver Norwood cleared off his own line from Keane's header, and Norwood then hit the bar with a free-kick as the Royals held on to move above their hosts.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche:
"It's unusual for us to start so sloppy really. They scored a first from us crossing the ball and a breakaway and a bit of a mix-up really so it's a mistake from us and the second one was good play from them.
"After that I thought the response was excellent. The way the team went about it for the rest of the game, the chances we created were certainly enough to get something from the game.
"We kept them to mainly long-distance efforts apart from one at the end where it got a bit of a scramble in the box.
"You can't give a two-goal head-start to anyone at any level of football. It's very difficult then."
Reading boss Steve Clarke:
"The idea is always to be competitive in the division and I think after quite a slow start, not performance-wise but results-wise, we're starting to pick up wins now so that's four wins out of the last five games.
"If you continue to do that in this league, who knows what can happen because if you're able to string together a run of wins, as Burnley did which took them into the top six and as we've done recently, you can quickly get up the table.
"But there's no point in getting too excited about the table in September."
Line-ups
Burnley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Heaton
- 27Darikwa
- 4Duff
- 5KeaneBooked at 52mins
- 6Mee
- 21Boyd
- 14JonesSubstituted forTaylorat 86'minutes
- 37Arfield
- 11KightlySubstituted forBartonat 56'minutes
- 9Vokes
- 18HenningsSubstituted forLongat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Lowton
- 13Barton
- 15Taylor
- 22Gilks
- 23Ward
- 24Long
- 34Anderson
Reading
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Bond
- 2GunterBooked at 88mins
- 8Hector
- 5McShane
- 11Obita
- 23WilliamsBooked at 90mins
- 6NorwoodSubstituted forCooperat 90'minutes
- 17PiazonSubstituted forTshibolaat 71'minutes
- 12McClearySubstituted forJohnat 82'minutes
- 22Blackman
- 9Robson-Kanu
Substitutes
- 3Taylor
- 16Hurtado
- 18Tshibola
- 19Fernández Iglesias
- 20John
- 26Al Habsi
- 35Cooper
- Referee:
- Tony Harrington
- Attendance:
- 15,226
Match Stats
Home TeamBurnleyAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home7
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Burnley 1, Reading 2.
Post update
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Paul McShane.
Post update
Attempt blocked. George Boyd (Burnley) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Vokes with a headed pass.
Post update
Foul by Michael Keane (Burnley).
Post update
Jake Cooper (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Danny Williams (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Joey Barton (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Danny Williams (Reading).
Post update
Foul by Scott Arfield (Burnley).
Post update
Aaron Tshibola (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Danny Williams (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hal Robson-Kanu.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sam Vokes (Burnley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Matthew Taylor with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Chris Gunter.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Jake Cooper replaces Oliver Norwood.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Williams (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.
Post update
Oliver Norwood (Reading) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Michael Duff (Burnley).
Post update
Danny Williams (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Chris Gunter (Reading) is shown the yellow card.
