Reading Snatch Late Victory Over Burton Albion Amidst Handball Controversy

Reading secured a crucial late win against Burton Albion with a 2-1 victory, bolstering their play-off push in League One. The match, however, was marred by controversy as Burton Albion head coach Gary Bowyer voiced his frustration over a potential handball by Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira in the opening moments of the game.

Match Highlights

The game saw both sides trade impressive goals in the first half. George Evans opened the scoring for Burton Albion with a stunning 30-yard strike, while Kamari Doyle equalized for Reading with a powerful rising drive from just outside the box.

The decisive goal came in the dying minutes, with Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan heading home a deflected cross to seal the win for Reading.

Handball Controversy

The major talking point of the match revolved around an incident in the early stages where Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira appeared to handle the ball outside his area as Jake Beesley attempted to go past him. Despite appeals from Burton Albion, the referee and assistant waved play on. Gary Bowyer described the incident as “a clear handball” in a post-match interview.

Bowyer also expressed his disappointment with another decision later in the game, stating that Andy Cannon was felled inside the box by Andy Yiadom, but again, no penalty was awarded. As reported by the Derby Telegraph, Bowyer believes the officials failed to penalize Pereira for handling outside his area.

Match Details

• Final Score: Burton Albion 1 – 2 Reading
• Scorers:
• Burton Albion: George Evans
• Reading: Kamari Doyle, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan
• Incident: Potential handball by Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira
• Injury: Delay in match due to injury to Joel Pereira (Reading) as noted by BBC Sport

Looking Ahead

Reading’s victory strengthens their position in the play-off race, while Burton Albion will look to bounce back from this disappointing result. The handball controversy is likely to be a talking point in the coming days, raising questions about the consistency of officiating in League One.