Reading 1-1 Stoke City | Premier League match report

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<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.24.1.1/9016?ns=guardian&pageName=Reading+1-1+Stoke+City+%7C+Premier+League+match+report%3AArticle%3A1789763&ch=Football&c3=Obs&c4=Premier+League+%28Football%29%2CReading+%28Football%29%2CStoke+City+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c5=Premier+League&c6=Russell+Kempson&c7=12-Aug-18&c8=1789763&c9=Article&c10=Match+report&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&c42=Sport&h2=GU%2FSport%2FFootball%2FPremier+League" width="1" height="1" /></div><p>Reading returned to the Premier League after a four-year absence and, despite dominating a limited Stoke City side for much of a dour match at the Madejski Stadium, had to settle for a dramatic late draw. Dean Whitehead gave away an 89th-minute penalty with a foul on Garath McCleary, and was sent off for his second yellow card, and Adam Le Fondre thumped in the spot kick. Stoke had gone ahead in the first half after a howler from Adam Federici, the Reading goalkeeper.</p><p>At least Reading made a better start than when making their Premier League debut in August 2006. After just 21 minutes, they trailed 2-0 at home to Middlesbrough. It was a rude welcome to the top flight. That they recovered to win 3-2 – and went on to finish in eighth place, missing a European spot only on goal difference – said much for their reserves of strength.</p><p>Reading survived the opening 21 minutes this time and looked the more likely to make the breakthrough, with Danny Guthrie running the midfield on his debut and Pavel Pogrebnyak, the former Fulham loanee, giving Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross, the Stoke centre-backs, plenty to think about.</p><p>Stoke offered little in reply, apart from a succession of poorly timed challenges and mutterings of dissent aimed at the referee, Kevin Friend. So much so that Friend felt the need to call over Stoke's captain, Shawcross, to advise him to keep his troops in order – or else he might take firmer action than he had been.</p><p>Kaspars Gorkss powered a header wide, from a Guthrie corner, and Jon Walters went closer when nodding narrowly off-target from a Michael Kightly free-kick. It was Kightly, a £2 million summer buy from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who provided the most incisive moment in the 33rd minute.</p><p>Glenn Whelan crossed into the heart of Reading's area, Alex Pearce headed away weakly and Kightly latched on to the loose ball. He totally mis-hit his shot – straight into the ground – but it spun towards Federici's near post and the Australian goalkeeper allowed it to slip through his grasp. As howlers go, it was a grade one.</p><p>Reading continued to press in the second half, with Stoke content to soak up the punishment, but the home side failed miserably in creating any clear-cut opportunities. Pogrebynak did have a half-chance but, after Pearce's knockback from an Ian Harte corner, he nodded straight at Asmir Begovic, the Stoke goalkeeper. It summed up Reading's lack of a cutting edge.</p><div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/reading">Reading</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/stokecity">Stoke City</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/russell-kempson">Russell Kempson</a></div><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div><p style="clear:both" /><img width='1' height='1' src='http://guardian.co.uk.feedsportal.com/c/34708/f/639039/s/22814c81/mf.gif' border='0'/><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/139792211717/u/49/f/639039/c/34708/s/22814c81/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/139792211717/u/49/f/639039/c/34708/s/22814c81/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/139792211717/u/49/f/639039/c/34708/s/22814c81/a2t.img" border="0"/>
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