Reading 1-1 Stoke City: Nick Powell rescues late point for Potters
- Published
Lucas Joao and Yakou Meite 'took a knee' to support the Black Lives Matter movement after the Portuguese striker scored the opening goal
Nick Powell's stoppage-time header salvaged a point for Stoke City as they drew with Reading on their return to Championship action following the Covid-19 hiatus.
Lucas Joao's seventh-minute goal, when he deftly finished Yakou Meite's cross from the right from six yards out, looked ultimately to have been decisive.
But 90 seconds into stoppage time Powell headed in from close range after James Chester had headed back a corner that the Royals could not deal with.
Both sides hit the woodwork - Reading's John Swift crashed a 54th-minute free-kick against the crossbar while Tyrese Campbell, of Stoke, hit the post from 20 yards out 16 minutes later.
The game behind closed doors at the Madejski Stadium was the first for both clubs since sides returned to action following a three-month suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The point sees Mark Bowen's Royals stay 14th in the Championship, eight points off the play-off places, while Stoke move two points clear of the relegation places and stay 18th.
Key injury worries for both sides.
Having had two months off because of the pandemic, clubs returned to training less than a month ago and concern may be raised about how much preparation teams have had as both sides suffered significant first-half injuries.
Joao - who was playing in his first game since a New Year's Day hamstring injury - had impressed from the outset.
But the Portuguese forward lasted just 36 minutes as he was forced off with what seemed like a similar problem to before.
Meanwhile, Stoke manager Michael O'Neill could be without experienced skipper Ryan Shawcross after the centre-back came off at half-time having appeared to pick up a groin injury late in the opening period.
Royals kick themselves after late leveller
Reading put pictures of their fans in the stands
Reading looked good value for three points, having had the better of the game.
While Tom Ince should have levelled for Stoke four minutes after Joao's goal - his tame side-footed effort was easily saved - Reading looked the more threatening.
The hosts could have been further ahead before the break as Michael Olise forced Jack Butland into a good save from 25 yards after an error from Chester, before the French midfielder's teasing ball from the right just evaded Joao at the far post three minutes later.
Soon after the restart Reading were aggrieved when Michael Morrison was pushed in the back by Sam Clucas as the Royals defender attempted to get on the end of a deep cross, but the referee did not give a penalty.
Stoke's best spell came with 20 minutes to go when Campbell's strike against the woodwork was followed by two James McClean efforts, the Irishman having a shot well-blocked by Chris Gunter before firing a free-kick over the bar.
And Powell's late goal proved to be the perfect pick-me-up for Stoke boss O'Neill, who returned to work on Friday having had to self-isolate after testing positive for Covid-19.
'Concentration cost Reading' - reaction
Reading boss Mark Bowen told BBC Berkshire:
"We thought we'd done enough, I thought we played well through the game and controlled [it] for long periods, we had ample opportunities to get the second goal.
"We were a bit a sloppy in giving them the corner that led to the equaliser.
"It was a really frustrating thing that having worked so hard under unusual circumstances to get that three points, it was that concentration [that let us down] with three minutes to go.
"Too many of us with the corner situation were stood round almost looking at the ball hoping Michael Morrison or Liam Moore comes to head it instead of making sure they did something about it themselves."
On Lucas Joao injury:
"When I spoke to him he said he didn't feel anything pull, it was more of a stiffness that crept up on him. With his injury history we had to do the right thing.
"But I've had that there before when you think there's nothing really there and he ends up having a scan and it's not good news, so we won't count our chickens until we see how he rocks up tomorrow or Monday."
Stoke boss Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:
"I think it was a hard-fought point, I think we deserved something from the game.
"It was disappointing to go behind at the time we did, I thought we settled into the game quite well and then we had to be wary that we didn't concede another because Reading had a period when they were dominant.
"I thought second half, and particularly in the last half-an-hour of the game, we were the more dominant side and our fitness was excellent, the substitutions made a difference."
On Ryan Shawcross' injury:
"I think it's a groin or adductor so it's very frustrating for Ryan that he comes back and picks up these niggly little injuries.
"It's difficult to assess it at this minute in time but the information we have to date is that it's not going to keep him out too long."