Match ends, Brentford 1, Reading 0.
Brentford 1-0 Reading: Ollie Watkins' strike sees in-form Brentford beat Reading
- From the section Championship
Ollie Watkins headed his 11th goal of the season as Brentford secured a narrow win over Reading.
The Bees striker rose highest from a Mathias Jensen cross in the 62nd minute.
He almost grabbed a second just five minutes later, but the Royals' Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael Cabral reacted well to block.
Reading's George Puscas spurned a good chance when he couldn't finish when in on Bees goalkeeper David Raya.
There were early yellow cards for Reading's Andy Yiadom and Brentford's Pontus Jansson in an even opening at Griffin Park.
Watkins was soon into the goalmouth action but was crowded out by defenders, before Kamohelo Mokotjo saw an effort blocked.
Puscas had the clearest chance of the first half after timing his run in behind the Bees defence, but Raya smothered the ball as he attempted to go around him.
The goal came just after the hour mark when Watkins planted a header into the bottom corner.
Reading struggled to create a clear chance for an equaliser but went close in an injury-time goalmouth scramble.
The victory saw Brentford move up to eighth in the Championship and put an end to Reading's four-match unbeaten run.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank:
"Ollie's was a fantastic header. He's a constant threat. His link-up play and his work ethic is crucial.
"We are so pleased he has stepped up and was the main man, the one who decided the game today.
"He's definitely a number nine now, because he's so flexible. Cristiano Ronaldo did quite well in the beginning as a winger. Hopefully Ollie can do something similar.
"This was one of those games where we performed quite well against another opponent in form, with some top players."
Reading manager Mark Bowen on Puscas' chance:
"I was willing him to have a shot and that's his game, usually he likes to get his shot away, but he changed his mind and the ball just ran away from him.
"Maybe a lack of concentration cost us for the goal we conceded. But overall we had a lot of huff and puff, a lot of hard work, but that little bit of quality in the final third was lacking.
"Numerous times we went forward and you are thinking something is going to happen, but the ball wasn't as good as it can be.
"They took their chance. It's small margins in this league."
Line-ups
Brentford
- 1Raya
- 22Dalsgaard
- 18JanssonBooked at 9mins
- 5Pinnock
- 3Henry
- 8JensenBooked at 82mins
- 12Mokotjo
- 14DasilvaBooked at 78minsSubstituted forOksanenat 90+1'minutes
- 19Mbeumo
- 11Watkins
- 10BenrahmaSubstituted forZamburekat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Thompson
- 28Daniels
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 31Zamburek
- 32Racic
- 34Oksanen
- 35Rasmussen
Reading
- 33Cabral Barbosa
- 5Miazga
- 4Morrison
- 6Moore
- 17YiadomBooked at 4mins
- 10SwiftBooked at 29mins
- 8RinomhotaSubstituted forBoyéat 71'minutes
- 14Ejaria
- 27Richards
- 47PuscasSubstituted forMcClearyat 60'minutes
- 9BaldockSubstituted forMeiteat 50'minutesBooked at 79mins
Substitutes
- 1Walker
- 2Gunter
- 12McCleary
- 18Boyé
- 19Meite
- 24Blackett
- 29Tuncará Gomes
- Referee:
- David Coote
- Attendance:
- 11,892
Match Stats
Home TeamBrentfordAway TeamReading
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away1
- Corners
- Home8
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away15
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Reading 0.
Foul by Kamohelo Mokotjo (Brentford).
John Swift (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, Reading. John Swift tries a through ball, but Garath McCleary is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Lucas Boyé (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by John Swift.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Jaakko Oksanen replaces Josh Dasilva.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Michael Morrison.
Attempt blocked. Jan Zamburek (Brentford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mathias Jensen.
Attempt saved. Pontus Jansson (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Josh Dasilva with a cross.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Omar Richards.
Attempt blocked. Ollie Watkins (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bryan Mbeumo.
Attempt missed. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Henrik Dalsgaard.
Booking
Mathias Jensen (Brentford) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Mathias Jensen (Brentford).
Ovie Ejaria (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Jan Zamburek replaces Saïd Benrahma.
Booking
Yakou Meite (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Yakou Meite (Reading).
Foul by Josh Dasilva (Brentford).
Omar Richards (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Omar Richards (Reading).
Booking
Josh Dasilva (Brentford) is shown the yellow card.
Saïd Benrahma (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Matt Miazga (Reading).
Offside, Reading. Lucas Boyé tries a through ball, but Yakou Meite is caught offside.
Rico Henry (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lucas Boyé (Reading).
Attempt blocked. Kamohelo Mokotjo (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Garath McCleary (Reading) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andy Yiadom.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Lucas Boyé replaces Andy Rinomhota.
Attempt missed. Ovie Ejaria (Reading) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Henrik Dalsgaard.
Foul by Ethan Pinnock (Brentford).
Yakou Meite (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Ollie Watkins (Brentford).
Andy Rinomhota (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ethan Pinnock (Brentford).
