Reading 3 v 2 Palace

FOOTBALL can be a cruel game as Palace found out to their cost when a late goal consigned them to defeat from a match they at least deserved to draw.

The Eagles overcame the 35th minute loss of leading scorer Andy Johnson to take a 2-1 lead only to be denied a point in the last minute.

As expected Iain Dowie reverted to a 4-4-2 formation for the trip to the Championship's early pacesetters.

The opening chance came on six minutes to Irish youngster Kevin Doyle who capitalised on a route one clearance from Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann to fire in a low drive which Gabor Kiraly did well to guide over this bar.

On 10 minutes he produced another stop to deny Reading's record signing Leroy Lita but by then Palace should have been a goal to the good.

Excellent work between Johnson and Clinton Morrison, already showing signs of a sound understanding, released Tom Soares whose cross found the recalled Aki Riihilahti on the edge of the six-yard box.

But the Finn's composure deserted him and he blazed high over the bar. On 12 minutes Johnson did likewise, albeit with a more difficult chance.

A minute later the England man again found space on the edge of the box and this time he opted to drive into the area where his charge was halted by an outstretched Reading leg.

Surely even the home fans must have expected referee Brian Curson to point to the spot but, to general astonishment and Dowie's visible bemusement, play was waved on.

A temporary lull was perhaps understandable given the pulsating nature of the contest but the respite did not last long as Doyle fired in a low shot from the edge of the box which Kiraly gathered at the second time of asking.

On 26 minutes the summer signing from Cork handed his side the lead with a sweet left-footed shot from the edge of the area.

It was a superb individual effort and just reward for his vibrant performance though in truth the goal, the first Palace had conceded in more than four games of football, was eminently preventable.

Within three minutes the Eagles were level when Johnson collected the ball in midfield and kept running before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the roof of the Reading net for his fifth goal of the season.

Palace skipper Fitz Hall almost immediately picked up his fifth booking of the season which will see him serve a one match suspension.

There was further bad news when Johnson left the field with a thigh injury to be replaced by Jon Macken.

The second-half started in spectacular fashion when a long throw-in from was flicked on by Darren Ward to Morrison whose volley flashed past Hahnemann.

Palace were nearly punished a minute later when the impressive Glen Little's cross from the right was met by Lita but Kiraly saved.

As the end-to-end entertainment continued Macken, looking for his first Palace goal, forced Hahnemann into another stop.

On 55 minutes Morrison appeared to be unceremoniously dumped on the floor following a tackle from behind and as play continued the Republic of Ireland international was promptly booked for dissent.

He soon redeemed himself however when he released Soares with an intelligent through ball but the England under-21 international found only the stands with his left-foot shot.

The Royals were back on level terms within a minute when Lita's acrobatic overhead kick gave Kiraly no chance.

Then on 75 minutes disaster struck as Reading were awarded a penalty for Soares' trip on Doyle.

To the Palace fans' delight Kiraly saved Lita's spot-kick but to their disgust it was re-taken after referee Curson adjudged the Hungarian had encroached off his line.

No matter as the second penalty, taken this time by Little, was again saved by Kiraly.

Then 10 minutes from time Kiraly's counterpart was tested by a Ben Watson free-kick which Dowie saw from the stands after being dismissed from the touchline following a dispute with the fourth official.

Reading snatched a late winner through Ibrahima Sonko who rose highest to meet Little's free-kick.

One last desperate throw of the dice saw Neil McDonald throw Wayne Andrews on at the expense of Riihilahti but it was to no avail as Palace succumbed to their third defeat of the season.

Palace: Kiraly; Boyce; Ward; Hall; Borrowdale; Soares; Riihilahti (Andrews 88); Watson; Hughes; Morrison; Johnson (Macken 35).

Subs not used: Butterfield; Speroni; Popovic.

Booked: Hall, 32; Morrison, 55.

Att: 17,562.