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.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.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. Head boy: Shane Long once again proved to be Reading's match winner The home side looked a threat from the off and striker Long came close to an opener inside the first five minutes.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.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.The visitors began to wrestlecontrol of midfield with Cork and Chris Eagles influential, and the duocombined to create the opener in the 28th minute.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) 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.The goal shook up the home side and they were level within three minutes through the excellent Long.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.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.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.The Royals were well on top as theycontinued their fine start to the second period and Long in particularwas proving unstoppable.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.But Long`s persistence paid off when he headed home in the 68th minute.Jobi McAnuff delivered the ball from the right and Long got across his marker to power in a header which gave Grant no chance.Marney had the best chance to equalise for the Clarets when he arrived onto a deep cross but could only steer his volley wide. 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  Explore more:People: Lee Grant, Stuart Gray, Ian Harte, Jimmy Kebe, Brian McDermott, Tyrone Mears

Source: Daily_Mail