Aston Villa move out of relegation zone

This was certainly a ‘must win’ game for both Reading and Aston Villa before today’s 3pm kick off at the Madjeski Stadium.

After a frantic first half an hour, the game suddenly sprung into life.

It was the home side that took the lead thanks to some fantastic play from Jobi McAnuff, who hit a cross low and hard into the flat footed Nathan Baker who could only guide the ball past Brad Guzan in the Villa goal.

Almost straight from the restart and Aston Villa were level courtesy of a Christian Benteke goal from inside the area – Two goals in the space of two minutes!

The assistant’s board went up to signal the two added minutes at the end of the first half, but there was still time for Villa to go in with the advantage and Gabby Agbonlahor rifled home from close range to make it 1-2 – A perfect time to score – That was only Agbonlahor’s fourth goal of the season.

The second half was much the same as the first, end-to-end for almost 45 minutes. Reading’s Hal Robson-Kanu scuffed two great opportunies to level.

The only difference between the sides was in the final third in that Reading rarely tested Brad Guzan in the Villa goal, whereas Reading’s Stuart Taylor had to make some vital stops.

The game ended 2-1 in favour of Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa. This win saw them leapfrog Wigan and climb out of the relegation zone.

For Reading, they remain second from bottom facing trips to Arsenal and Manchester United in their next two games, it’s not looking too good for the Royals.