Filed under: Reading, Nottingham Forest, Championship, Football, Match Reports
Simon Church provided Brian McDermott with the perfect 50th birthday present as Nottingham Forest's promotion mission suffered another stumble.Church settled a crazy City Ground encounter with a dramatic winner to boost Reading's dream of a return to the Premier League.
Lewis McGugan's 88th minute penalty looked to have earned the hosts a point but Church pounced to complete an amazing triumph for the visitors, with Shane Long even having a penalty saved by Lee Camp at the death.
McDermott, 50 on Friday, has not tasted defeat in ten games and this win - only Forest's second home defeat in 40 games - cemented their place in the top six.
Ian Harte gave Reading a dream start with a beautiful free kick before Forest finally received a slice of good fortune when McGugan fell theatrically under Mikele Leigertwood's innocuous challenge in the box, with Kris Boyd ramming home the spot kick.
Robert Earnshaw looked to have settled Forest's nerves early in the second period when he drove a shot across Alex McCarthy into the bottom corner. But their lead lasted barely minutes as Jem Karacan rose unopposed to power a header past Camp from 18 yards.
And Forest's frailties were painfully obvious when Jimmy Kebe struck from close range just after the hour, after Camp had saved from Zurab Khizanishvili.
Their luck hadn't quite run out though, with referee Craig Powson awarding a second spot kick after Hal Robson-Kanu's foul on Chris Gunter. McGugan stroked home his 12th of the season, only for Church to hand the visitors the points.
Incredibly, Republic of Ireland international Long was denied soon after - when Gunter handled in the area - with Camp diving superbly to keep out the third penalty of the game.
REACTION
Reading manager McDermott was refusing to get carried away, despite their stirring victory:
"It is a good run but we've still got six games to go. We've got Scunthorpe on Tuesday and they've just beaten QPR so that shows what this league is all about. There is still a long way to go."
On the victory:
"This win just gives me so much pride after seeing the spirit of the players. Even at 3-3 we were trying to win the game and it speaks volume for our levels of endurance."
On the penalty decisions:
"The first one was soft. The second one I don't think was a penalty, it was shoulder to shoulder. We thought it wasn't a penalty. But we got on with it."
Forest manager Davies is refusing to give up on his play-off mission:
"It might sound a little bit silly but what we've faced this year, with injuries and lady luck and suspensions, makes it a better season than the last one.
"There are 18 points to play for and I still expect it to be a photo-finish. There's still lots to play for."
On the woeful defending:
"We've been beaten by a very good candidate for automatic promotion but today we showed what we are - naive and immature at times.
"The winning goal summed us up. We just stood and watched."
On his lack of options:
"What did I say about injury and suspension? And you will see quite clearly what I advised would happen. You cannot finish games with Gareth McCleary, McGugan and Radoslaw Majewski as your midfield three and expect to win matches.
"But I have no complaints with what they've done as they've done me the very best. We lack depth and quality."
WHAT IT MEANS:
Forget Prince William and Kate Middleton, these Royals are eagerly awaiting a date of their own in the form of a Wembley play-off final after a sixth successive victory. You wouldn't bet against them even sneaking automatic promotion after such an excellent recent run. These are worrying times for play-off specialist Davies, though, whose hopes of securing a place in the end of season shootout for the fifth time in seven seasons is looking in serious jeopardy.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/04/09/nottingham-forest-3-reading-4-simon-church-strikes-last-minute/
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