Match ends, Reading 1, Sheffield United 3.
ReadingReading1Sheff UtdSheffield United3
Sheffield United beat Reading to go sixth in the Championship and increase pressure on Royals manager Jaap Stam.
Leon Clarke crossed for Billy Sharp to open the scoring with a rebound off Vito Mannone before Mark Duffy cut inside and smashed into the top corner.
Omar Richards hammered in a rebound to make it 2-1 before Blades keeper Simon Moore saved Leandro Bacuna's penalty.
Sharp sidefooted in from a long ball as the Blades moved above Bristol City and into the play-off places.
The game hinged on two second-half minutes with United's substitute goalkeeper Moore pushing away Bacuna's low spot-kick after Liam Kelly was bundled over.
Having been close to making it 2-2, Reading instead found themselves 3-1 behind a minute later when Sharp latched onto John Fleck's pass to score via the inside of the post.
The striker's second goal of the game ensured a fifth Championship game without a win for Stam, whose side are 18th, four points above the relegation zone.
In truth the margin of victory could have been greater, with Clarke, Sharp and Clayton Donaldson all spurning good chances for the Blades, who moved a point above Bristol City.
Moore was on the pitch because of an injury to Jamal Blackman, while Clarke was replaced by Donaldson after both players were injured in separate incidents the same first-half minute.
Reading manager Jaap Stam told BBC Radio Berkshire:
"It could've been six or seven to be honest. If you're not starting games well enough defending decisively and aggressively, you'll give the opposition chances.
"We could've gone forward quicker earlier on, but that didn't happen and we didn't make those decisions."
On his future in the job: "I don't feel pressure myself as everyone knows what can happen in football.
"If the club wants to make a decision then they can do that. Everyone knows if you're having a bad spell and not winning games, a decision can be made.
"That's not up to me, it's how it goes in football. I wouldn't be surprised if that decision comes."
Sheffield United assistant manager Alan Knill told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"It was a really good performance from the players today. Everything we asked for and everything we expect, we got.
"We were all really disappointed with the performance [in the previous game against Hull]. The standards have been set by the players so when we drop below them it's only right they know - and tonight was the perfect way to answer them.
"In the first half we should have been 3-0 up after 15 minutes, but it's good that we're creating."
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1MannoneBooked at 64mins
- 20IloriSubstituted forSmithat 74'minutes
- 6Moore
- 4van den BergBooked at 57mins
- 12McClearySubstituted forRichardsat 6'minutes
- 19BacunaSubstituted forEvansat 69'minutes
- 22ClementBooked at 70mins
- 2Gunter
- 38Kelly
- 27Martin
- 23Bödvarsson
Substitutes
- 8Evans
- 16Edwards
- 17Barrow
- 24Blackett
- 31Jaakkola
- 50Richards
- 55Smith
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 27BlackmanSubstituted forMooreat 34'minutes
- 6BashamBooked at 50mins
- 19Stearman
- 5O'Connell
- 2Baldock
- 20Evans
- 21DuffySubstituted forLeonardat 82'minutes
- 4Fleck
- 3Stevens
- 9ClarkeSubstituted forDonaldsonat 34'minutesBooked at 83mins
- 10Sharp
Substitutes
- 1Moore
- 7Lundstram
- 11Donaldson
- 14Leonard
- 24Lafferty
- 26Holmes
- 32Evans
- Referee:
- Andy Davies
- Attendance:
- 6,769
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamSheff Utd
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away6
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 1, Sheffield United 3.
Post update
Offside, Sheffield United. Enda Stevens tries a through ball, but Clayton Donaldson is caught offside.
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Pelle Clement (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by George Baldock (Sheffield United).
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Foul by Joey van den Berg (Reading).
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Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Liam Kelly (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Enda Stevens (Sheffield United).
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Attempt missed. Jón Dadi Bödvarsson (Reading) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Reading. Conceded by Lee Evans.
Booking
Clayton Donaldson (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
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Liam Kelly (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Clayton Donaldson (Sheffield United).
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Ryan Leonard replaces Mark Duffy because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. Chris Martin (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Liam Kelly.
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Attempt blocked. Sam Smith (Reading) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Liam Kelly.
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Attempt blocked. Sam Smith (Reading) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. John Fleck (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Clayton Donaldson.
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Attempt missed. Clayton Donaldson (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by John Fleck with a cross following a set piece situation.
