If you had followed Ryan Rosenblatt's advice and bet on their being more cards than shots on target, you would've just lost out. Stoke City and Reading combined for two goals, five shots on target and two cards in a contest that was so statistically even Stoke City nearly managed to reach 50% in possession for the second time in their Premier League history.
Stoke's goal resulted from a goalkeeping error by Adam Federici; Michael Kightly won the second ball from a knockdown in the penalty area, and, from the middle of the box, hit a soft dipping shot to Federici's near post. Inexplicably, the Australian goalkeeper let the shot squirm in, to give Stoke a 1-0 lead.
Reading tried to find an equaliser, but they were often prohibited from doing so by Stoke's tactical fouling. They continued to push for an equaliser though, with Danny Guthrie running things well in the midfield, displaying his excellent long-range passing ability. Reading, though, lacked a cutting edge, with Pavel Pogbrenyak particularly disappointing. They would be held until Dean Whitehead fouled Garath McLeary in the penalty box in the 89th minute, earning himself a second yellow card. Reading's top goal-scorer from last year, Adam Le Fondre, scored the penalty, giving the hosts a deserved point in their return to the Premier League.
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