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Even so, despite being some way from our best, the result probably flattered a Reading side who didn't have a solitary effort on target other than the goals, and this was certainly no Sheffield Wednesday or Ipswich style performance from the Clarets.
However, by the time Chris McCann scored with a minute and a half to go in normal time we were a beaten side and can now regroup, as we did a month ago, with two weeks before the next game.
It was no surprise to see both Owen Coyle and Steve Coppell name unchanged sides. Whilst we were on the back of three successive wins whilst the in form Reading had scored no fewer than thirteen goals in their previous three league games.
I'd like to say it all started very brightly for Burnley, and it did for the first three minutes or so as we got hold of the ball and got forward. But in the fourth minute, in their very first attack, Reading took the lead.
Michael Duff committed himself to a challenge on Jem Karacan which led to the Reading midfielder going down injured. Referee Kevin Friend allowed play to go on. They got in a cross from the left that was too deep, but when it was returned from the right wing Noel Hunt got in ahead of Clarke Carlisle to head home.
Reading celebrated the early lead, but without both Karacan and Noel Hunt who both needed treatment for injuries. The goalscorer was right in front of us and down for some time before finally getting to his feet. He was clearly not with it, and Reading have since confirmed he was concussed. Incredibly he did come back on.
That was the only effort Reading had on our goal in the first half, and much of the play was in the opposite direction towards their goal. The only time they threatened us again in that first forty-five minutes was when Chris Armstrong broke clear after a superb run only to be denied by a brilliant challenge by Stephen Jordan.
Up the other end we were doing ok but didn't come close enough to getting that equaliser. Both Joey Gudjonsson and Jordan had good long range shots saved, whilst twice Steven Thompson looked as though he should have done better with headers from right wing crosses.
We were dominating play, but the passing was not as good as it has been and in particular both Joey Gudjonsson and Chris McCann were very wasteful when in possession. Even so I bet Reading must have considered themselves very fortunate to be going in at half time when referee Friend brought it to a very early end.
He added on one minute, presumably the set time for a goal and a substitution (Noel Hunt was eventually replaced), but he didn't add a second on for the delay when both Karacan and Hunt required treatment).
We needed to go out in the second half, keep up the momentum, improve on the passing, and we could still get something from this game. Unfortunately that didn't happen and we were soon finding ourselves with a two goal deficit.
Reading had already missed one second half chance when, seven minutes in, Stephen Hunt doubled the lead, and what a simple and disappointing goal it was. They got in a cross from the right far too easily but Hunt had managed to lose Duff and was left to head in unmarked as the Burnley defender tried to get back in vain to block.
Two goals down and Duff had injured his ribs in trying to keep it out and had to be substituted a few minutes later and that led to a reshuffle. Graham Alexander went to right back and Chris Eagles came on and went out onto the left as we moved to a more 4-4-2 formation.
Just before that change there was some bizarre refereeing as Kevin Doyle and Martin Paterson started pushing each other about after the award of a free kick to Reading. Some referees would have a word, others would get their cards out, but Friend, who must have concerned both sets of fans with his performance, chose to card Paterson and ignore Doyle's contribution.
Within minutes of the first change Robbie Blake came on for Thompson but then Reading put it all beyond doubt by getting a third. Kevin Doyle got to a ball ahead of Clarke Carlisle down their left and his cross was met by Shane Long who scored from close range after getting in front of Steven Caldwell.
It was all over at 3-0 but we didn't let our heads go down and pack it in. What we did do was start to get our game going again.
Full marks and more to Eagles, he was at times sensational down that left wing and gave Reading some difficult moments. Meanwhile Robbie gave the ball away a couple of times but also helped set up a couple of things, and who knows how close he might have come to pulling one back.
One piece of superb play from him saw him clear with a run on goal. It was, or should have been, a one-on-one with goalkeeper Hahnemann, but Blake was brought down. No foul said referee Friend, and no surprise here, it was Paterson who had chopped him down.
We did eventually get ourselves a goal, but there were just ninety or so seconds of normal time left when it came and invariably Eagles was involved. We played the ball across midfield and eventually McCann played it out to Eagles, he turned inside the full back to cross right footed and McCann was there to head home into the corner.
No celebrations, just a goal back, but we came ever so close to getting a second from Caldwell. But it wasn't about to end on a high note, just the opposite after Jordan, who had been as good as anyone on the pitch in the first half, got himself a second yellow card and was sent off.
A defeat then, and the run is over. I think most people were expecting a very tough game at Reading but to be honest it didn't materialise as Reading were nowhere near their best. But neither were we, it was just an off day.
There weren't too many candidates for man of the match. Jordan up to half time but he faded after the interval. Alexander did well in the midfield but it is difficult to find any other candidates. That was until Eagles came on and played in that wide position, and how well he did. It's not often I'll pick a second half substitute as man of the match, and he did play at a time when Reading may well have just relaxed at 3-0, but he did enough to warrant it.
Overall though it was disappointing, but as I wrote initially this was no Sheffield Wednesday or Ipswich, it is not a performance that should start any alarm bells ringing. We just need to get this one out of the system and get another run going.
The teams were;
Reading: Marcus Hahnemann, Liam Rosenior, Andre Bikey, Ivar Ingimarsson, Chris Armstrong (Julian Kelly 65), Jimmy Kebe, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Jem Karacan (Kalifa Cisse 74), Stephen Hunt, Noel Hunt (Shane Long 25), Kevin Doyle. Subs not used: Mikkel Andersen, James Henry.
Yellow Cards: Chris Armstrong.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff (Chris Eagles 56), Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson, Chris McCann, Steven Thompson (Robbie Blake 60), Martin Paterson (Jay Rodriguez 76). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Alan Mahon.
Yellow Cards: Martin Paterson, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan.
Red Cards: Stephen Jordan.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicester).
Attendance: 18,621.