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Reading logo
Championship | Gameweek 19
Dec 16, 2020 at 8pm UK
Madejski Stadium
Norwich logo

Reading
1 - 2
Norwich

Olise (14')
Onen (83')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Buendia (11'), Pukki (55' pen.)

Norwich City return to summit with win over Reading

Michael Olise had earlier cancelled out Emiliano Buendia's opener.

Norwich returned to the top of the Championship with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

In an entertaining first half, Norwich went ahead through Emiliano Buendia early on only for Michael Olise to level soon after.

Top-scorer Teemu Pukki took his tally for the season into double figures when he stroked home a penalty in the 55th minute.

A fourth successive 2-1 win sent City three points clear at the summit.

Norwich had gradually overcome a series of injuries to key players to fashion a run of only one defeat in 14 matches, which included 10 victories.

They won 2-1 at Blackburn on Saturday, with Pukki scoring twice.

Reading had shown improved form lately, with three wins from their past five outings.

But they had also been afflicted by injuries. Leading marksmen Lucas Joao and Yakou Meite – with 14 and six goals respectively – have been ruled out until the new year.

The Madejski's East Stand was again populated by about 2,000 fans for the third successive home match.

Norwich, replaced at the top by Bournemouth after their 1-0 home win over Wycombe on Tuesday, started brightly in Berkshire.

Pukki seized on an error in midfield by Josh Laurent but, after running on unopposed, he shot tamely at home goalkeeper Rafael.

In the 11th minute, though, Norwich were gifted the opener after Reading had tried to cleverly play the ball out of defence.

They failed miserably, with Buendia taking full advantage. He cut in from the right and beat Rafael with a low drive.

Three minutes later, Reading were level after Sone Aluko's blocked shot had been fired goalwards by Ovie Ejaria.

City keeper Michael McGovern was clearly wrongfooted as the ball took a deflection off Olise and past him.

Norwich responded positively, with Pukki twice denied by the flying Rafael.

Both were firm volleys from right-wing crosses to the near post but Rafael made a pair excellent stops.

City head coach Daniel Farke brought on substitutes Todd Cantwell and Kieran Dowell at half-time in an effort to freshen up his troops.

It seemed to work, with Norwich regaining their momentum and the lead 10 minutes after the break.

Max Aarons proved too tricky for home skipper Liam Moore, who clumsily brought him down in the area, and Pukki guided in the penalty.

Reading tried to get back into it but Ejaria was well off target from long range.

And Norwich could have stretched their lead when a Dowell snapshot deflected on to a post with Rafael stranded.

In the end, though, Pukki's sure touch from the spot proved enough for the new table-toppers.

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Teemu Pukki celebrates with teammates after scoring for Norwich City against Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on December 12, 2020
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


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