Aston Villa 1-3 Reading: Royals humble Villa with clinical finishing

A Joseph Mendes brace helped Reading overcome Aston Villa 3-1 in a disappointing afternoon for the Claret and Blues.

The result ends Villa’s hopes of going six league games unbeaten at home, something they haven’t replicated since the 1992-93 season.

For the Royals, three points away from home sees them march back up the table to fourth. In a lively opening exchange, both teams were up and down the park creating chances, but it was Reading F.C. who drew first blood.

Frenchman Joseph Mendes capitalized on an early mistake made by fellow countryman Jordan Amavi, dispatching the resulting through ball from Lewis Grabban on the angle.

More from Claret Villans

Villa quickly replied and were back on level terms within ten minutes. A Henri Lansbury effort almost found the back of the net, but it was brilliantly parried behind by a flying Ali Al Habsi.

However, the resulting corner did produce a goal, as Villa skipper James Chester leaped strongly to power his header in at the Royals’ near post.

Reading could have retaken the lead once again, but striker Mendes blasted over from the edge of the six yard box despite having the goal gaping.

The home side were looking dangerous from set plays, with both Nathan Baker and Leandro Bacuna having chances from quality aerial deliveries.

Sam Johnstone was also called into action after another defensive mistake, this time Bacuna squandering possession to allow Grabban free reign of the Villa box, but he could only find the hands of the young stopper.

Half-time came and went, but this spelled disaster for Steve Bruce’s boys and they never fully recovered.

Within a minute of kick-off, Mendes had restored the lead for Jap Staam’s men as he coolly converted a Grabban cross from the right, stunning Villa Park into silence. Things almost deteriorated further, but Johnstone saved Villa’s blushes with a fine double save from Jordan Obita and an ever dangerous Lewis Grabban.

The home team tried to exert some form of pressure on the visitors, but had a penalty claim turned away.

Substitute Scott Hogan had a golden chance to claw Villa back into the game after a fantastic run by Mile Jedinak, but in similar fashion to Mendes’ first half chance, he skied the ball into the Lower Holte.

Next: Ranking The Five Best Villa U-20 Stars

Such a miss signaled the beginning of the end, and on 79 minutes Grabban compounded the woes in B6 by scoring a spot kick following a foolish challenge from Bacuna.

No reply could be found and Villa now slip to 12^th in the league.

Home/Analysis