Reading 1 Sunderland 0

Last updated : 01 September 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Reading's superb home form continued with a narrow 1-0 win over beleaguered Sunderland at the Madejski.

Sunderland have yet to pick up a point on their travels this season whereas Reading have won all three games at home.

The match got off to a great start for Reading when Nicky Forster scored the only goal of the game after just two minutes.

Andy Hughes delivered a brilliant cross from the right, and although Mart Poom got a hand to Forster's unopposed header, he could not prevent the striker from scoring his second of the season.

Sunderland immediately went on the attack, with Kevin Kyle heading over and Marcus Stewart shooting wide and Mick McCarthy's team went agonisingly close to an equaliser after 16 minutes.

Kyle's deft cushioned header fell invitingly to Dean Whitehead but his shot hit the outside of the post with Marcus Hahnemann beaten.

After resisting Sunderland pressure, Reading almost scored before the break but Poom managed to save James Harper's free-kick and the ball was put out for a corner with Forster lurking.

Sunderland came out after the break with all guns blazing and won a series of corners but consistently poor delivery frustrated the Black Cats forwards.

And having withheld the visitors' pressure, Reading came close to a second.

Steve Sidwell was played clean through but Poom saved with his legs and then denied Forster with the follow-up. From the subsequent corner the ball hit the post after a scramble in the six-yard box and rebounded towards Dave Kitson but Poom made an excellent save.

Sunderland substitute Stephen Elliott made space in the Reading penalty area with a neat turn but his shot from a tight angle fell wide of Hahnemann's goal.

A frustrating evening for the sizeable contingent of visiting fans was capped off close to full-time when referee Alan Wiley turned down a penalty appeal after Sean Thornton went down under a challenge from Graeme Murty.