Reading 3 Burnley 1

Alexander and Karacan battle for the ball.

Reading had their Irish contingent to thank after goals from Noel and Stephen Hunt and Shane Long helped them beat Burnley and maintain their 100% home record.

The Royals got off to a flying start when Noel Hunt headed them in front after only four minutes, meeting Jimmy Kebe's cross.

Hunt suffered a head injury scoring the goal but Reading continued undeterred and made the game safe after half-time through goals from Stephen Hunt and Long, who had come on for Noel Hunt in the first half.

Burnley did get a consolation through Chris McCann in the final minute but the game ended on a sour note for the visitors when Stephen Jordan saw red for a second booking in injury time.

Both sides were unchanged going into the game and it was Reading who got off to a flying start when Kebe's cross from the right found Noel Hunt, who bravely rose above his marker to head his sixth goal of the season.

Burnley reacted well to going a goal behind and Hahnemann did well to tip Jordan's long-range drive over the bar.

The Royals suffered a blow mid-way through the half when Hunt succumbed to the head injury he sustained scoring the goal and was replaced by Long.

The substitution did not affect Reading's rhythm too much and the effective Kebe headed over the bar.

Minutes later Chris Armstrong embarked on a tremendous run and beat two players before bursting into the area but the ball just got away from him and he could only poke the ball at Brian Jensen.

Reading began the second half in similar fashion to the first and should have been 2-0 up five minutes after the restart when Rosenior's cross from the right found Stephen Hunt, but he looped his header over the bar.

Three minutes later, the midfielder made up for that miss by doubling Reading's lead when he met Kebe's cross and planted a close-range header past Jensen.

Burnley attempted to force their way back into the game and Martin Paterson's shot from the edge of the area was saved by Hahnemann.

With 64 minutes gone Reading made the game safe when Kevin Doyle got past Clarke Carlisle on the left and fizzed a fine ball across to the on-rushing Long, who side-footed home.

Seconds later, Kebe should have capped a fine performance by making it 4-0 but he dragged a shot from six yards wide after being found by Long.

Burnley continued to push forward and their day was summed up with 18 minutes left when Robbie Blake and Paterson went scampering after Jensen's long clearance and both ran into each other.

With seven minutes remaining Kebe was forced off injured, reducing Reading to 10 men as they had made all their substitutions.

Burnley capitalised on the numerical advantage with a minute remaining when Chris Eagles got down the left and crossed for McCann, who headed in.

That goal proved to be no more than a consolation and a bad day for the visitors got worse when Jordan received his marching orders in injury time after getting a second booking for a foul on Long.

Teams:

Reading: Hahnemann, Rosenior, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Armstrong (Kelly 65), Kebe, Gunnarsson, Karacan (Cisse 74), Stephen Hunt, Doyle, Noel Hunt (Long 25).

Subs Not Used: Andersen, Henry.

Booked: Armstrong.

Goals: Noel Hunt 4, Stephen Hunt 52, Long 64.

Burnley: Jensen, Duff (Eagles 56), Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Alexander, Gudjonsson, Elliott, McCann, Paterson (Rodriguez 76), Thompson (Blake 60).

Subs Not Used: Penny, Mahon.

Sent Off: Jordan (90).

Booked: Paterson, Caldwell, Jordan.

Goals: McCann 89.

Att: 18,621

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).