Reading 0 – 1 Sheff Utd

Sheffield United boosted their hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Reading.

In a fine first half from both sides, Sander Berge’s effort from distance provided United’s best moment while Tom Ince drove narrowly wide for Reading.

United defended resolutely after the interval but soon upped the tempo and made a crucial breakthrough on the hour through a fine first-time finish from Iliman Ndiaye.

It was enough for a valuable victory that moved the Blades seven points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship table.

United are in poor form, with a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn on Saturday their third defeat in four league games.

Reading have won just two of their last 10 matches but are unbeaten at the SCL Stadium in seven games in all competitions.

United started slowly, with manager Paul Heckingbottom watching from the stands as he served the final game of his three-match ban.

Reading were the first to threaten, with wing-back Andy Yiadom breaking free down the right before releasing Shane Long. Long’s cross into the area looked dangerous, but the visitors’ defense cleared it without any problems.

Read again took the initiative going forward, with Ince following into Blades territory. His effort from 20 yards was poor, but goalkeeper Wes Foderingham didn’t need to move as it flew wide.

United gradually began to find a rhythm. 12-goal top scorer Oli McBurnie nodded straight at home keeper Joe Lumley, who had to make a smart stop to drive away from Berge.

Ince almost broke the deadlock just before half-time, but his long-range effort missed Foderingham’s far post.

United started the second period slowly, with Reading mostly running.

Andy Carroll headed in slowly, from a promising Tom Holmes cross, then failed to find the power with a shot that Foderingham comfortably saved.

However, United soaked up the pressure and went out to take the lead on the hour following a smart team move.

Jayden Bogle found McBurnie near the touchline and his accurate cross was neatly turned in by Ndiaye at the near post for his 12th goal of the season – taking him level with McBurnie.

It may be difficult to read, but quickly try to find an equalizer.

A cross from the left from Nesta Guinness-Walker was met by a flying header from Carroll but Foderingham did well to clear the ball over the line.

United could have extended their lead late on, but Lumley did well to keep out a close-range effort from substitute Billy Sharp.

The managers

Paul Ince from Reading:

“We played well tonight, we did well. I’m just disappointed that we didn’t get anything from the game. It was a good response after a poor second half against Middlesbrough last week (losing 5-0). A good reaction . You play a team that can go up automatically or through the play-offs but we competed with them and played good football. We mixed it well and, in the last 15 minutes, they (United) just kicked up the park and you could see at the panic station.

“I know, today is obviously a big win for them because it makes them seven points ahead of Boro. goal, it’s just one mistake from us, one fine detail – and they go bang, bang and score. But today it’s about positive because I view that guarantee.”

Paul Heckingbottom of Sheffield United:

“We know where we are now. We have a game in hand, any game, whatever. But now we’re seven points ahead. [of Boro] with 11 games left. There it is. It’s all to play for. It was a good win for us, a big win. We were really strong in the first half, but we wanted to present more of a threat in the second half and the goal was a good example. For all the possession we had, we could have had another ball run into Reading’s midfield and caused more problems.

“We kept going into the final third but then it was a case of ‘what’s next?’ We have to make the central defenders face the path they don’t want, and then see what they can do. in the second half.”