Reading 1 QPR 0: Paul Clement’s side cling on against ten-man Rangers after Sone Aluko’s first-half rocket
Paul Clement earned his first win as Reading manager despite a huge scare against ten men.
PAUL CLEMENT somehow won his first game in charge of the Royals - despite QPR missing an added-time penalty and being down to ten men.
Sone Aluko’s first-half rocket turned out to be the winner after a second-half battering.
Reading sub Yann Kermorgant made the task even harder by picking up two crazy yellow cards, leaving his team hanging on for the last ten minutes.
Former Swansea boss Clement said: “I’m most pleased about the fight and the passion from the players. It was a team performance and the players put in a great shift.
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“The two big moments were the goal — which was worthy of winning any game — and then the penalty at the end, which was a real nail-biter.
“But we got the result in the end that everyone wanted and needed.
“I’ve only had four days to work on tactics with the players but they’ve got great character.”
After 13 minutes Aluko picked up the ball in the inside right channel.
He had options but chose to arrow a superb 20-yarder past Alex Smithies’ grasp.It was just the start Clement must have dreamed about.
Rangers thought they had scored four minutes before the break when Luke Freeman drilled in a shot from outside the area but it was diverted past by keeper Vito Mannone. The entertainment continued into the second half as Reading tried to force a second goal.
R’s boss Ian Holloway countered by throwing on big striker Matt Smith.
It almost paid an instant dividend but the front man planted his header inches wide.
Strike partner Paul Smyth then went on a mazy run before firing in a shot that Mannone somehow tipped over.Kermorgant picked up his first booking for kicking the ball away.
His second, on 81 minutes, was for clattering Darnell Furlong.
Then there was real late drama when a tired Dave Edwards upended Pawel Wszolek in the area in injury time.
Jake Bidwell went down the middle with his spot-kick but Mannone saved to lift the roof off the Madejski Stadium.