RS Sport

Two late goals from Liam Moore and Leandro Bacuna rescued a point for Reading in a 2-2 draw at the Macron Stadium.

Phil Parkinson’s Bolton extended their unbeaten run to 7 games but let a 2-0 lead slip in the process.

Defender Reece Burke had put Bolton ahead in the 18th minute, before captain Darren Pratley made it two just 3 minutes later.

Moore pulled a goal back for Reading in the 75th minute, Bacuna then scoring from the spot after Mo Barrow was pushed in the box with just 8 minutes to go.

The first chance of the game came to Parkinson’s side, a poor backpass from the Reading defender allowed Gary Madine a chance but Reading goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola was able to reclaim the ball before he could shoot.

Clear cut chances were hard to come by early doors with Jaap Stam’s side keeping the ball well, but the opening goal went to Bolton on 19 minutes.

Sammy Ameobi was brought down on the edge of the Reading area, Josh Vela delivering a free kick into the box which was initially flicked on then headed home by Reece Burke, who had returned to the starting line up in place of the suspended Mark Beevers.

To make matters worse for Reading, midfielder John Swift was forced off through injury before the goal, Pelle Clement replacing him.

It was 2-0 soon after, Bolton winning another corner on 23 minutes. Vela played the ball in again, this time captain Pratley was the man on hand in the box to head past Jaakkola to the bottom right of the Reading goal.

The closest Reading came to scoring in the first half was from their own corner – the ball was played in from the left, flicked on and headed wide of the far post.

Barrow had the clearest opportunity from open play of the half for the visitors, cutting inside past Mark Little on the left and shooting, but his effort was too weak to test Bolton ‘keeper Alnwick who handled it comfortably.

HT – Bolton 2-0 Reading

The second half began slowly, with the first real opportunity falling to Reading’s Roy Beerens in the 53rd minute – good work from Chris Gunter down the right allowed him to play a ball in but the Dutchman headed over from close range.

Bolton struggled to put as much pressure on the visitors in the second half as in the first, their first chance falling to Karl Henry, who fired over from inside the box.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson came on in the 66th minute, with Reading’s continued pressure telling soon after.

The ball was played in from the right hand side and although there was a deflection in the box, no-one could stop Moore from sliding in at the back post to half Reading’s deficit.

Jaap Stam’s side continued to press forward, with Bacuna attempting another long range effort on 80 minutes although this time it was wide of the right post.

The game’s turning point came in the 82nd minute, Barrow charging into the box only to be brought down by Ameobi.

Bacuna took responsibility from the spot and fired home into the bottom left, Alnwick diving the opposite way.

Bolton had chances late on, Le Fondre firing wide with the aid of a deflection in injury time.

From the resulting corner, the header was won by Bolton although Jaakkola made a crucial save down to his right.

He was called into action again when Gary Madine connected with a cross inside the box, his reactions enabling him to parry the ball away from close range, ensuring that Reading came away from the Macron with a much-deserved point.

FT – Bolton 2-2 Reading

Bolton XI – Alnwick, Little, Burke, Wheater, Robinson, Pratley, Henry, Ameobi (Noone 87), Vela (Le Fondre 87), Armstrong (Buckley 80), Madine

Subs – Howard (GK), Le Fondre (on 87), Buckley (on 80), Noone (on 87), Cullen, Derik, Darby

Reading XI – Jaakkola, Gunter, McShane, Moore, Blackett (Kelly 70), Edwards, Bacuna, Swift (Clement 19), Barrow, Beerens (Bodvarsson 66), Aluko

Subs – Legg (GK), Ilori, Clement (on 19), Bodvarsson (on 66), Kelly (on 70), Richards, Loader

Att: 13130