Match ends, Norwich City 1, Reading 2.
NorwichNorwich City1ReadingReading2
Norwich City's awful run continued as a pair of Jake Cooper headers gave Reading their first win in three games.
City went ahead through Gary Hooper, who turned in Nathan Redmond's cross, but Cooper headed home Oliver Norwood's corner moments later.
Norwich keeper John Ruddy flapped at a Jordan Obita corner to allow Cooper to once again nod in unopposed.
Hooper and Michael Turner had chances to level and Josh Murphy blazed over, but City have now won just one in 10.
The final whistle was met by a loud chorus of boos and a chant of "what a load of rubbish" as supporters expressed their frustration at a restless Carrow Road.
After setting the early season pace in the Championship, boss Neil Adams, who had Sir Alex Ferguson's former Manchester United assistant Mike Phelan alongside him for the first time as first-team coach, is coming under increasing pressure, with his side now down in 11th.
Reading, themselves on a torrid run of eight losses in 12 games, rarely put the Canaries rear guard under substantial pressure in the first half, but were gifted two goals by inept City defending at set-pieces.
It had looked promising for Norwich, whose opener, while the product of a slick move, was given because of referee David Webb's decision to overrule the offside flag of his linesman.
Redmond drilled in a low cross that Cameron Jerome helped on and, even though Hooper looked to be offside when he prodded in, the referee spotted a Reading defender on the by-line and let it stand.
The Reading equaliser was much more straightforward, as Cooper rose to meet Norwood's corner at the back post and nodded down past Ruddy.
The Royals' Australian keeper Adam Federici played the game with a cricket bat propped up behind his goal in memory of countryman Phillip Hughes, and he produced a terrific save to tip Lafferty's drive against the bar.
And City were stunned moments before the break when Ruddy failed to reach an Obita corner and 19-year-old Cooper, who had never scored a senior goal before the game, headed in the second of his career.
Ruddy almost suffered a greater catastrophe when he dropped Norwood's 35-yard effort, but was relieved to see it spin back off the line and into his hands.
Reading survived a claim for handball against Michael Hector in their own area, and Murphy somehow sliced over Lewis Grabban's cut-back in injury time, as Nigel Adkins' side defended admirably to move up to 14th.
Norwich manager Neil Adams:
"The supporters were perfectly within their rights to react the way they did. They were excellent during the game and really got behind the team, but at the end they let their feelings be known.
"I can understand the way they are feeling because once again we have shot ourselves in the foot today and it is not good enough.
"We have been undone by two set-plays. They have delivered the corner to the tallest player on the pitch and twice he has headed it in.
"Ironically we have been defending set-plays well this season - but that just wasn't good enough."
Reading manager Nigel Adkins:
"It's an excellent result against a team that don't tend to lose many at home and it's a reward for a good, strong performance.
"Jake Cooper has had an excellent game for us. He has obviously scored the two goals, but he also did a great job at the other end.
"He has come through our academy and is making really good progress. He's a tall lad who is obviously good in the air, but he is also quick and can play a bit.
"If you look at our team sheets this season a lot of young players have made it into the side. There is a clear path from the academy through to the first team and that can only be a good thing."
Line-ups
Norwich
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 1Ruddy
- 2Whittaker
- 5Martin
- 6Turner
- 23OlssonSubstituted forGrabbanat 72'minutes
- 8HowsonBooked at 60mins
- 27TetteySubstituted forO'Neilat 84'minutes
- 22Redmond
- 9LaffertySubstituted forMurphyat 62'minutes
- 10Jerome
- 11HooperBooked at 44mins
Substitutes
- 3Cuéllar
- 7Grabban
- 12Hooiveld
- 18Garrido
- 21Murphy
- 26Rudd
- 28O'Neil
Reading
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Federici
- 3Kelly
- 15Hector
- 35Cooper
- 2Gunter
- 12McClearySubstituted forTaylorat 67'minutes
- 6Norwood
- 23WilliamsSubstituted forBlackmanat 84'minutes
- 11ObitaBooked at 82mins
- 20MurrayBooked at 55minsSubstituted forFerdinandat 89'minutes
- 9Robson-Kanu
Substitutes
- 4Ferdinand
- 10Cox
- 18Tshibola
- 22Blackman
- 24Cummings
- 25Taylor
- 31Andersen
- Referee:
- David Webb
- Attendance:
- 26,002
Match Stats
Home TeamNorwichAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home63%
- Away37%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home10
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away13
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Norwich City 1, Reading 2.
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Michael Turner (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading).
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Foul by Lewis Grabban (Norwich City).
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Michael Hector (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Norwich City. Gary O'Neil tries a through ball, but Josh Murphy is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Josh Murphy (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Lewis Grabban with a cross.
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Foul by Josh Murphy (Norwich City).
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Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Anton Ferdinand replaces Glenn Murray.
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Offside, Norwich City. Gary O'Neil tries a through ball, but Nathan Redmond is caught offside.
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Josh Murphy (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Glenn Murray (Reading).
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Michael Turner (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Glenn Murray (Reading).
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Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Jake Cooper.
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Attempt blocked. Josh Murphy (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Josh Murphy (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Oliver Norwood (Reading).
