Burnley 1 - 0 Reading

Burnley 1-0 Reading

Updated: October 28, 2008, 10:09 PM UK

Substitute Robbie Blake's late strike settled a keen Coca-Cola Championship tussle at Turf Moor as Burnley beat Reading 1-0.

A fine goalkeeping display from Burnley's Brian Jensen and the frame of his goal ensured the game remained level going into the final 10 minutes.

Kevin Doyle, Andre Bikey and Jimmy Kebe all hit the woodwork before Blake turned away from three Reading defenders and fired past Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal.

The win means the Clarets remain unbeaten in 14 league games and trail tonight's opponents by only one point, while the visitors have still only one away victory to their name this season.

After a slow start, the home side carved out the first real opportunity when Steven Thompson almost got on the end of a testing Wade Elliott cross.

But Reading were not without chances of their own and a Kebe cross looked to have created the opener but the ball evaded several advancing attackers before going out for a goal-kick.

Only a fine Joey Gudjonsson tackle moments later stopped Kebe from walking the ball into the net. The Royals midfielder then somehow managed to regain possession on the edge of the box before stinging the palms of Jensen in the Burnley goal, who also saved well from Doyle on the follow-up.

Reading almost broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Doyle cut in from the right touchline before smashing a left-footed drive against the post with Jensen well beaten.

The home side hit back when Martin Paterson rounded Bikey before crossing into the Reading box.

A goal-line scramble ensued, during which the Clarets had several opportunities to put the ball in the net, but a combination of desperate defending and excellent goalkeeping on Hahnemann's part prevented them from doing so.

Jensen made another good save and Thompson headed a Chris Eagles cross just wide as the hosts tried but failed to take a lead into the break.

Reading had a good penalty claim turned down early in the second half. Chris Armstrong was clipped from behind by Elliott but the referee waved play-on.

On the hour mark, Jensen was once again called into action when he was forced to parry a Bikey header onto the post following a James Harper free-kick.

Minutes later the woodwork came to the home side's rescue once more. Another Harper free-kick saw Kebe loop a header over Jensen and onto the post.

Thompson almost connected with an Eagles cross 18 minutes from time as the game remained in the balance.

Then substitute Blake cleverly manoeuvred himself through three static Reading defenders before tucking the ball into Hahnemann's bottom-left corner to steal all three points for the Clarets nine minutes from time.