Match ends, Leeds United 3, Reading 2.
LeedsLeeds United3ReadingReading2
Chris Wood scored twice in 16 minutes as Leeds snatched a dramatic late victory over Reading at Elland Road.
Defender Michael Hector gave the Royals the lead at the break with a back post half-volley but Toumani Diagouraga's header brought the Whites level.
Wood's header from four yards out saw Leeds take the lead before Deniss Rakels' close-range strike equalised.
Leeds striker Wood then clinched all three points when he finished past Ali Al Habsi five minutes from time.
A group of Leeds supporters held a protest against chairman Massimo Cellino's ownership before the game and with both sides sitting safely in mid-table in the Championship and having little to play for, the match could have meandered into a dreary affair.
An early fumble by Reading captain Al Habsi forced Jake Cooper into an excellent goalline clearance as the game came to life before the half-hour mark.
The game featured a first Championship goal of the season for Hector and Diagouraga's first at this level, while Rakels netted his second goal of the season.
However, the afternoon belonged to 24-year-old Wood, whose 10th and 11th goals of the campaign ensured it was an unhappy return for Royals manager Brian McDermott to his former club.
Leeds head coach Steve Evans:
"At the moment I am fully focused on our next two games against Wolves and Hull.
"I have never made any secret of the fact that I want to be Leeds' head coach next term.
"In life we would all like decisions to be made quickly but when I asked my wife to marry me she took forever!
"The president (Massimo Cellino) will meet me for talks when he is ready."
Reading manager Brian McDermott:
"The Leeds fans are genuine, good people and Leeds United is a fantastic football club. Apart from the result, I enjoyed being back.
"We have a very young team and they will learn from playing in this environment.
"In the first half we were good value and maybe could have been two goals up, but we didn't come out for the second half as well as we should have done.
"We have more points than last season, so that is a positive sign. We need to improve results away from home and do the ugly stuff well"
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Silvestri
- 28Berardi
- 5Bellusci
- 6CooperBooked at 89mins
- 21Taylor
- 16DiagouragaSubstituted forPhillipsat 66'minutes
- 8Murphy
- 23L Cook
- 7AntenucciBooked at 65minsSubstituted forErwinat 80'minutes
- 15DallasSubstituted forCoyleat 90+2'minutes
- 9Wood
Substitutes
- 4Wootton
- 19Erwin
- 20Botaka
- 27Phillips
- 29Sloth
- 31Coyle
- 45Peacock-Farrell
Reading
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 26Al Habsi
- 12McClearyBooked at 65mins
- 8Hector
- 35Cooper
- 3Taylor
- 17PiazonSubstituted forJohnat 78'minutes
- 4EvansBooked at 35minsSubstituted forRakelsat 71'minutes
- 6NorwoodBooked at 79mins
- 21Quinn
- 7Vydra
- 31Cox
Substitutes
- 1Bond
- 10Rakels
- 15Ferdinand
- 20John
- 28Kuhl
- 43Watson
- 49Barrett
- Referee:
- Jeremy Simpson
- Attendance:
- 20,881
Match Stats
Home TeamLeedsAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Leeds United 3, Reading 2.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Michael Hector (Reading) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Stephen Quinn (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lewis Cook (Leeds United).
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Foul by Ola John (Reading).
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Gaetano Berardi (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Cook (Leeds United) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right. Assisted by Chris Wood.
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Attempt missed. Chris Wood (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Lewis Cook following a fast break.
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Lewie Coyle replaces Stuart Dallas.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ola John (Reading) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Oliver Norwood with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Matej Vydra (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Luke Murphy (Leeds United).
Booking
Liam Cooper (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Garath McCleary (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Liam Cooper (Leeds United).
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Michael Hector (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Wood (Leeds United).
Goal!
Goal! Leeds United 3, Reading 2. Chris Wood (Leeds United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jake Cooper (Reading) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andrew Taylor following a corner.
