Source: Daily_Mail
Reading 2 Burnley 1: Shane's playing the Long game as Royals hotshot bags sixth goal in five games
Shane Long continued his hot streak in front of goal with a brace as Reading leapfrogged managerless Burnley in the npower Championship table.[LNB]Long struck in either half to take his tally to six goals in his last five games as Brian McDermott`s side kept up the pressure on the play-off pack.[LNB]Caretaker manager Stuart Gray had seen Ross Wallace put Burnley briefly ahead but Long - who was superb throughout - soon levelled before finding a winner after the break.[LNB] Head boy: Shane Long once again proved to be Reading's match winner[LNB] [LNB]The home side looked a threat from the off and striker Long came close to an opener inside the first five minutes.[LNB]Long was alert to rob Brian Easton of the ball and surge into the area. However the ball took an unkind bobble and he shanked his left-footed strike across the face of goal.[LNB]Long was looking his usual livelyself and flashed a header wide after good work from Ian Harte beforeJack Cork had Burnley`s first effort with a dipping strike from 25yards which flew over the top.[LNB]The visitors began to wrestlecontrol of midfield with Cork and Chris Eagles influential, and the duocombined to create the opener in the 28th minute.[LNB]MATCH FACTS Reading: Federici, Griffin, Pearce, Matt Mills, Harte, Kebe, Leigertwood, Karacan (Robson-Kanu 67), McAnuff, Long, Hunt (Church 72). Subs Not Used: McCarthy, Tabb, Khizanishvili, Howard, Cummings. Burnley: Grant, Mears, Duff, Carlisle, Easton (Iwelumo 84), Eagles, Elliott, Cork, Marney (Rodriguez 71), Wallace, Thompson (Guidetti 79). Subs Not Used: Jensen, Alexander, Edgar, Bikey. Att: 16,151Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire) [LNB]Eagles fed a fine overlapping runfrom Tyrone Mears and the full-back was able to cut the ball backperfectly for Wallace to strike home powerfully from 15 yards.[LNB]The goal shook up the home side and they were level within three minutes through the excellent Long.[LNB]Noel Hunt won a header on thehalfway line and Long had the pace to race clear of the defence and thecomposure to slide the ball past goalkeeper Lee Grant.[LNB]Clarets midfielder Dean Marney thensmashed a strike against the crossbar when a cross was not dealt withbefore the break as an end-to-end half came to a close.[LNB]Hunt almost put Reading ahead at thestart of the second half when he narrowly missed Jimmy Kebe`s crossfrom the right before Long fired wide.[LNB]The Royals were well on top as theycontinued their fine start to the second period and Long in particularwas proving unstoppable.[LNB]First he drove to the byline andcrossed for Kebe to fire wide and then he again got clear of thevisiting defence but could not beat Grant.[LNB]But Long`s persistence paid off when he headed home in the 68th minute.[LNB]Jobi McAnuff delivered the ball from the right and Long got across his marker to power in a header which gave Grant no chance.[LNB]Marney had the best chance to equalise for the Clarets when he arrived onto a deep cross but could only steer his volley wide.[LNB] Swansea 1 Reading 0: Swans soar into second thanks to inspired De VriesBurnley 4 Sheff Utd 2: Losing start for Adams as Clarets come from behind [LNB] Explore more:People: Lee Grant, Stuart Gray, Ian Harte, Jimmy Kebe, Brian McDermott, Tyrone Mears
