West Ham 3-2 Reading

Noble grabbed a brace for The Hammers

Dec 2012: Reading only have themselves to blame after suffering a 3-2 defeat to struggling West Ham United.

Fit again Steven Fletcher put Reading in front after only 3 minutes with a simple effort from 10 yards out. Reading failed to add to their early pressure and West Ham caught them on the break and Miroslav Slepika equailised for the hosts after 8 minutes.

Reading controlled early parts of the match but it was clear they were sturggling with West ham’s pace on the counter and it showed wehn Jelle Van Damme hauled down Slepika in the box. Mark Noble slotted home the penalty. Noble made it 3-1 just before half time with a free kick from the edge of the box.

Right on te chusp of the halftime whistle Alex Pearce bulleted home a header to give Reading a chance. But after the break the Irons dominated possession and Reading never looked like getting back into the game

Reading: Cerny, Kelly, Pearce, Van Damme, Wallace, Besnard (Maazou 45),  Karacan (Cohen 67), Vavrik, Templeton, Swanson, Fletcher (Goodwillie 67)

Goal(s): Fletcher (3), Pearce (45)

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