Burnley came back from a goal down to produce one of the narrow football scores of the weekend in the Championship. After Tom Ince’s unexpected opener was leveled by Manuel Benson’s goal, the Clarets continued their unbeaten streak in the league and maintained their lead over neighbors Blackburn in the Championship standings. Reading took the lead after halftime thanks to Ince’s goal in a close game, giving his father Paul’s club hope that they may build on last week’s victory over Bristol City, which ended a run of three straight losses. However, the Clarets responded with replacement Benson after the chance was created by the wing wizardry of Belgium Under-21 international Zaroury, who throughout the game caused Reading problems.
Reading attempted to right their adrift ship after a run of five losses in their last seven away games while Burnley was without the services of its pivotal midfielder Jack Cork, and it showed in a performance that at times lacked shape. Ovie Ejaria’s speed on the break and from set pieces gave the Royals a chance to score at any time. Mamadou Loum and Andy Yiadom were both unmarked at the near post as the Clarets defenders shifted off in response to Ince’s early corner, but they collided and caused Loum’s header to harmlessly deflect across the box and out.
Thanks to a route one attack launched by goalkeeper Joe Lumley, the visitors unexpectedly took the lead. Yakou Meite flipped on his punt, and when Taylor Harwood-Bellis was unable to make an interception, Ince sprinted free to slip the ball past Aro Muric. The Clarets’ architect of the 10-minute advantage, as was inevitable, was Zaroury. In the seventh minute of added time, Benson drove at the defense and sent a lovely cross to the far post, which Zaroury headed past the Royals goalie to snag all three points. Zaroury had one final opportunity saved by Lumley.
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