READING.....2
Kitson 29
Harper 89
LATICS.........1
Bent 50
Marcus Bent scored his first goal for the club but Latics paid dearly for missing great chances as a late winner from James Harper earned the points for Reading
Bent rose majestically at the near post to equalise Dave Kitson's first half strike and Latics should have made sure when both Bent and substitute Julius Aghahowa failed to convert one-on-one chances.
Latics' equaliser was a gem of simplicity. A great right wing corner from Jason Koumas and Bent lost his marker to head unchallenged into the net with a header of pure power.
But Latics lost concentration late on, allowing James harper to wriggle clear and score past Chris Kirkland. It was another late killer twist for Latics after so much hard work looked to have earned at least one point.
Reading had gone in ahead ast the break thanks to Dave Kitson's goal on the half hour, but a huge debating point came a minute later when referee Keith Stride pointed to the spot after Koumas was bundled down by Bryn Gunnarson. He then consulted his linesman and changed his mind to give a free kick on the very edge of the box. TV replays showed it was the correct decision, but there were literally only a couple of inches in it. Koumas then curled a superb right foot shot against the crossbar
Koumy sets off on his run
Reading's goal came when Kitson latched onto the ball after Chris Kirkland had dived to to his left to smother a low shot by Kevin Doyle. Doyle also fired just wide after a run on the left, then Kirkland brilliantly denied Liam Rosenior from Doyle's flick on.
Michael Brown - very solid in the middle
LATICS
Kirkland; Melchiot (c), Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane; Brown, Scharner, Skoko, Koumas; Sibierski (Aghahowa. 79), Bent
Subs: Pollitt, Boyce, Olembe, Cotterill,
READING
Hahnemann, Murty (c), Duberry.Gunnarsson, Shorey; Rosenior (Convey, 63), Harper, Ingimarsson, Hunt, Kitson, Doyle (Bikey 90)
Subs: Fae, Long, Federici.
REFEREE: Mr. Stroud
SEE HIGHLIGHTS AND GOAL ACTION ON WIGAN WORLD
