Chelsea v Reading as it happened

That's all from another entertaining evening in the Premier League - we're back here on Thursday evening for some Europa League action.

See you there.

Chelsea fans enjoying the league table won't need reminding that they have not been top of the Premier League since November 2010. They are six points clear of Manchester United at the minute of course...

Next up for the Champions League winners are Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Fans of the Blues will not need reminding that Papiss Cisse scored 'that' goal in the same fixture just a few months back.

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo: "It was a very entertaining game for the supporters. We started very well, certainly until they equalised which knocked us back a bit.

"We kept them under pressure and luckily got the equaliser which galvanised us and we kept going forward. I've not seen the replay [of the Torres goal]. I looked at the linesman straight away and he gave the goal.

"I'm very happy with the squad. We have a good team and we showed that. I must give compliments to Reading as they worked very hard."

Here's Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo...

Reading will win plenty of games playing like that, I'm sure.

But it is very tough to pick three teams who might go down this season. It gets harder every year.

More from Reading manager Brian McDermott: "We felt there was something for us at 2-2 and could have got another goal. I certainly don't feel we deserved to lose the game.

"What you have to do is move on very quickly. I thought it was a great game. We've come to the European champions and put on a real performance and it shows we deserve to be here.

"We're trying our best to play the best football we possibly can. I told myself when I took this job we'd try and win games."

I'm not sure having the linesman look at that third goal will do much good now...

Reading manager Brian McDermott: "It's just a shame really. I'm disappointed for the players. I'm gutted the linesman made a mistake for the third goal.

"I've spoken to him, he said he'll look at it. He's a clear yard offside. The linesman will be disappointed with himself I'm sure."

Here comes Brian McDermott to speak to BBC Sport. He looks fairly dejected with that result - but what will he make of his side's performance?

Open and attacking - but potentially lose - or tight and cagey but possibly nick a point? Which would you rather see as a fan?

I make that three more assists for Eden Hazard tonight - to make it five in two games!

Not a bad start at all from the Belgian.

And while we digest that win for Chelsea let's not overlook that win for Blackburn as well. As Robbie Savage said all Steve Kean can do is win games and they've took four points from six now. A very solid start for Rovers.

It's an old debate Sam, but we haven't heard the last of it. Get the technology in I say. But what do I know?

So Manchester City and now Chelsea have both been given a right old scare by two of the newly promoted sides in the opening week of the Premier League season. Two cracking games as well.

Unlucky Reading - that was a very impressive performance and the 4-2 scoreline flatters Chelsea to a certain extent. A great breakaway for the final goal but good on Reading for giving it a try.

Federici is out of his goal...

Ian Harte lines up another free-kick and it goes for a corner. Adam Federici is up there!

Reading have a free-kick in a good area - but Ian Harte hits the first defender. Poor.

Reading substitute Hal Robson-Kanu earns a yard of space on the left, he stands up a great cross and Jobi McAnuff comes in at the back post but can't get over his header.

There are five minutes of added time and we are into them now.

I'm not sure about a mile - but it did look offside to me. Ian Harte was the last man for Reading and he was clearly behind Fernando Torres when he netted.

Very good point from David Pleat. I can't think of many sides who would have put on an extra striker at 2-2.

Fernando Torres's first reaction was to look straight at the linesman there. A guilty look.

Chelsea are knocking on the door now, the ball finds its way through to Juan Mata who shoots from the penalty spot but it is agonisingly wide of the far corner. Fernando Torres has been quiet in the last 20 minutes or so.

The Royals have suddenly found their second wind, with Adam Le Fondre posing a threat on the break.

Reading break well through skipper Jobi McAnuff but John Terry gets across to block him out.

Daniel Sturridge is in the thick of it here, he cuts in on to his left foot and bends in a lovely-looking strike which has Adam Federici concerned but the ball ends up in the stands. Can Chelsea win this?

Juan Mata shoots wide as Chelsea look for a winner now.

Chelsea's first real chance of the half. Eden Hazard is the catalyst again as he bursts away from his man beautifully before working the ball out wide.

Branislav Ivanovic fizzes the cross in, it squirms out to Hazard on the edge of the box but his shot is well blocked. Chelsea are turning it up a notch.

Yes, Conor. Yes we have.

Five years is an eternity in Premier League terms.

Oscar is operating in the 'number 10' position and has his first sight of goal. It's a good pass from Frank Lampard to pick him out and the Brazilian has no hesitation in letting off the shot but it is right at Adam Federici.

It's still goalless between Blackburn and Hull by the way.

Reading are sitting back but that owes much to the attacking threat posed by Chelsea at the moment. John Terry is dumped to the floor by Alex Pearce but the former England captain is back on his feet.

Chelsea piling on the pressure here as Reading just about get a corner away. Roberto Di Matteo has had enough and is readying a change.

Chelsea are looking for a way through but Reading are still pressing them high up the pitch and making life difficult.

Worryingly for Chelsea fans, since the start of the 2009-10 season, the Blues have won just three of the 25 Premier League games that they have conceded more than two goals in. A win looks a long way away at the moment.

It may have been started by Blackpool a few years ago, but we have seen the likes of Swansea, Norwich, Southampton and now Reading all come into the Premier League with no fear of attacking the big teams. It's great to see. Chelsea are putting the pressure on now though.

But here come Reading. Jobi McAnuff beats his man on the left and whips in a dangerous cross, it's half cleared to Danny Guthrie whose shot is blocked this time. There is no panic in Reading's play, they are very composed when they do get it.

Chelsea move the ball neatly to find Eden Hazard on the left this time, he runs at Chris Gunter who wisely doesn't dive in this time, he stands off the Belgian who can't deliver a telling cross. Chelsea have started strongly.

Reading are now attacking the end behind which are housed several thousand of their travelling supporters. This could be a famous night for them.

Chelsea put together a decent attack though and Branislav Ivanovic blazes over the bar.

Interestingly, Garath McCleary was playing for Slough a few years ago - and that is where Brian McDermott cut his managerial teeth as well.

It's not just the home of Wernham Hogg you know.

I think we are entering knee-jerk territory here. Garath McCleary is 25, he's not a teenager. And we are only a game-and-a-half into the Premier League season.

Let's see how he's getting on at Christmas. But there is no doubt he's been a real threat.

Steve Kean gets some serious grief. You have to feel for him a bit don't you? Or do you?

That Danny Guthrie goal gets no better on repeat viewing. Petr Cech basically went to ground too early, so he was on the floor by the time the ball bounced in front of him and then couldn't adjust. A shocker.

Former Hull manager Phil Brown on BBC Radio 5 live at Ewood Park: "Hull look very well organised, like a typical away side. Blackburn are the more open, expansive team. But if Hull can break more quickly when they get the ball, they could cause Blackburn problems in the second half."

Now then. Roberto Di Matteo will not be a happy man at all. What can he muster in his team talk?

Eden Hazard again, this time he drops in a cross from the right which is perfectly-weighted, Fernando Torres gets in between two defenders but can't quite arc his header back across goal enough and it goes wide.

Oohh and they do come so close to a third!

Ian Harte whips in a fine free-kick from deep, Alex Pearce loses his marker and would surely score if he makes contact - but he can't quite reach the ball as it drifts just wide of the post.

This is really strong stuff from Reading. They have seven players in the attacking third here, with Chelsea looking ragged. Not many teams come to Stamford Bridge and attack like this. Can they get a third?

Garath McCleary is the stand-out threat for Reading and he puts in another brilliant cross from the right which forces John Terry into an awkward header over his own crossbar.

John Obi Mikel embarks on a run down the wing - honestly - and then picks out Eden Hazard 30 yards from goal.

The Belgian fires in an instant shot which has Adam Federici worried but eventually flies a few yards over the top. Hazard is the stand-out threat for Chelsea.

Reading are pushing really high up the pitch now, their confidence is up, and they force Ashley Cole into kicking at out for a throw. Chelsea's early swagger has all but gone.

No doubt about it, that was a howler from Petr Cech. Reading are top of the Premier League as it stands...

Juan Mata's free-kick is a good one but John Terry can't keep the ball down and heads way over the top.

Eden Hazard has won another foul here in a dangerous area...

Chelsea give it away cheaply in midfield and Jobi McAnuff has a chance but his shot is well blocked.

Chelsea then pour forward and Fernando Torres is almost in but he is well snuffed out. Those of you who text in predicting a lot of goals may well be on the money tonight.

Roberto Di Matteo never strikes me as the most emotional of characters, but he is fuming here. He is stood with arms crossed on the touchline as he tells a few subs to start warming up.

Reading ahead at the half-hour mark then. Who saw this coming?

That was a belter of a header. Not quite in the Andy Carroll v Sweden league, but not far behind. Chelsea look stunned.

Eden Hazard did go down easily yes - but it was a foul. He is a tricky customer.

Chelsea are defending a corner, and 15 seconds later almost score a second.

Petr Cech comes and claims the corner before launching a ball down the left to Juan Mata. He stands up a cross to the back stick where Eden Hazard is free, he tries to pick out Fernando Torres in the middle but can't quite control his pass.

Only Alan Shearer has scored more penalties than Frank Lampard in the Premier League - and he may get a few more this season if Eden Hazard continues like this. Defenders just can't deal with him once he runs into that area.

This is a test of patience for Chelsea. They are controlling all of the ball but Reading are a disciplined opponent.

Lovely stuff from Fernando Torres.

He drifts into a pocket of space on the corner of the penalty area, nutmegs Jem Karacan but just drags his shot across the face of goal. The Spaniard looks lively.

Reading midfielder Danny Guthrie looks to be the man tasked to get close to Pavel Pogrebnyak whenever possible. The former Newcastle man has been crowded out every time the ball has come his way so far but it's important that they do possess some attacking threat.

I think Jem Karacan is attempting a man-marking job on Eden Hazard - he's certainly been in his shadow for most of the early stages.

That will be a very, very tiring day's work.

Eden Hazard has looked very sharp so far. He is always on the move.

Oh what a chance for Chelsea!

They break at real pace, with Branislav Ivanovic releasing Ramires down the right. The Brazilian streaks clear - but Fernando Torres is in oceans of space in the middle and doesn't get the pass.

Ramires had to pass that. It was a tap-in for Torres.

It's all Chelsea who look very slick early doors. Juan Mata and Eden Hazard link up across the edge of the box and that man Frank Lampard is bursting into the box.

The pass to Lampard is just overhit though and he can't get on the end of it.

Chelsea popping it about with confidence, and here's the first glimpse of Eden Hazard. He is played in down the left and shoots early, but drags it wide.

Good grief Theroy. Good grief...

The players are out on the pitch. Reading are playing in all yellow.

The groundstaff are doing their last-minute forking on what looks an exemplary surface at the Bridge - we are minutes away from kick-off.

Is that the first 'Le Fondre for England' call?

Reading's new owner Anton Zingarevich takes a stroll over to say hello to the travelling faithful along with Sir John Madejski - who is still chairman of the Royals.

It won't be often that Zingarevich is only the second wealthiest Russian in a room but he will be tonight if Mr Abramovich is in the house.

One of Chelsea's new boys - Oscar - is introduced to the Stamford Bridge crowd, and here comes Marko Marin.

Marin sporting a cracking checked shirt there, very early 90s. The German is out injured at the minute but is yet another attacking option at Roberto Di Matteo's disposal.

The one thing they do seem to be lacking is out-and-out strikers. Time for one more addition?

I have to confess, I'm a massive fan of Brian McDermott. He has done a great job at Reading and will not get too flustered even if they are on the end of a hiding tonight.

He once told me that Gylfi Sigurdsson would end up playing for Real Madrid. I laughed in his face - but it's not so funny now...

So what can Chelsea do this season then? A top-four finish?

I have to keep reminding myself that they actually won that Champions League final in the end. It all seems so long ago...

This is a big night for Ian Harte as well.

The former Leeds man is 35 in a few days' time and must have thought he was winding down his long and varied career when he was in League One with Carlisle just a year or so ago.

Now he is back on the biggest stage of them all and will be up against the lightning-quick Ramires down that flank. Could be interesting.

It looks like Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak could be in for a long evening as he leads the line on his own for Reading.

Garath McCleary could be one to watch though - the former Nottingham Forest man made a real difference when he came on against Stoke at the weekend, ultimately winning the last-minute penalty which gave them a point.

So just why are Chelsea and Reading playing an extra Premier League game tonight? A good question.

Chelsea are in European action next Friday night when they take on Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup in Monaco so they are squeezing this game in.

In tonight's other action, Steve Kean could be in for a volatile evening as Blackburn face Hull at Ewood Park, while there are a handful of Champions League qualifiers going on acoss the continent.

There are no British sides involved tonight, with the likes AEL Limassol and BATE Borisov trying to find a way into the elite competition.

The Royals began life back in the top flight with a 1-1 draw at home to Stoke on the weekend and now face a huge task.

Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea were impressive on their way to a 2-0 win at Wigan and may just possess the signing of the summer in Eden Hazard. Will he run riot tonight? Or will Ian Harte and co keep him under wraps?

This time last year, Brian McDermott took his Reading players for a midweek jaunt into London. They were beaten by League One side Charlton in the League Cup.

They only won three of their first 10 games in all competitions and were in 16th place in the Championship on 1 November.

Tonight they take another trip into town but in very different circumstances. Tonight they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

It's been quite a year...