Ananova:

John Salako gave Reading an undeserved 1-0 half-time advantage against Coventry.

Steve Coppell's inconsistent side were on the receiving end of a battering but managed to keep out their hosts and went ahead from one of their very few forward forays.

Coventry started the match looking as though they would again cause their opponents all sorts of problems with Gary McSheffrey heading wide in the third minute from a cross by his strike partner Julian Joachim.

In their next attack, a Muhamed Konjic header was parried by Reading goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown, who was continuing to deputise for injured Marcus Hahnemann.

But in the 10th minute, completely against the run of play, the visitors took the lead. Calum Davenport conceded a free-kick with a foul on Dave Kitson and when Salako floated the ball in from the left, it eluded everyone and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

Apart from a Kitson effort that was held by Coventry goalkeeper Scott Shearer, Reading failed to build on their goal and the Sky Blues pressed for an equaliser with Bjarni Gudjonsson going close, although they also had Michael Doyle booked.

Konjic was proving a threat at Gudjonsson's excellent corners, having another decent chance which he headed wide, while Ashdown came under further pressure from an Eric Deloumeaux effort and a Davenport header that was scrambled off the line by Graeme Murty.

As the half drew to a close McSheffrey, who had scored five goals in his previous six appearances, had two good opportunities but sent both wide.

	Related stories: FT: Coventry 1 Reading 2 17:08 Saturday 27th March 2004 Preview: Coventry v Reading 10:06 Friday 26th March 2004 More related stories

	Check for more on: Reading Coventry City English First Division Soccer

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