Last-gasp Le Fondre denies Leeds United boss on return to Reading

Stephen Warnock, sent-off in injury-time at Reading.

Brian McDermott’s first return to Reading as Leeds United boss did not go according to plan as his side conceded a last-gasp goal to lose their unbeaten away record.

United looked good for a point with the game goalless deep into injury-time and the four minutes indicated already played, but up popped super sub Adam Le Fondre to net a winner for Reading from Daniel Williams’ free-kick.

To make matters worse for Leeds a minute earlier they were reduced to 10 men with left-back Stephen Warnock sent-off for a second yellow card and he will now miss Saturday’s game against Burnley.

Both sides had chances to win a tight game and United were left to rue a miss by Jason Pearce late on.

They fielded 10 of the side that won at Bolton on Saturday with Tom Lees in for the injured Lee Peltier at right-back.

United had the first chance of the match through Lees, but he could not find the net. Paddy Kenny was then called into action at the other end, saving well from a shot from distance by Danny Williams.

An easier save kept out Hal Robson-Kanu’s effort before the best chances of the first half saw Sean Morrison head over twice.

Leeds were kept to strikes from distance with skipper Rudy Austin going closest with a well hit effort.

Morrison headed over again early in the second half, but United defended well and created a good chance themselves when Ross McCormack fired a shot just over.

Luke Varney headed a McCormack cross over while Kenny saved well to deny Akpan and looked set to keep a second successive clean sheet only for the late drama to deny him.

First Pearce headed wide with the goal gaping from a McCormack free-kick then Warnock was red carded for a foul having earlier been booked. And with virtually the last kick Williams sent in the cross that was flicked on and headed home by Le Fondre who has made a habit of these things in his career.

Match facts

Reading 1

(Le Fondre 90+6)

Leeds United 0

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Sky Bet Championship

Att: 21,167

Reading: McCarthy; Kelly, Bridge, Morrison, Pearce; Karacan (Akpan 8), Guthrie, Williams; Drenthe, Robson-Kanu (Le Fondre 66), Blackman (McCleary 71).

Leeds: Kenny; Lees, Wootton, Pearce, Warnock; Tonge, Austin, Murphy; Hunt (Poleon 60), Varney (Smith 84), McCormack.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick.