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Saturday, December 19
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Dec 16, 2020 at 8pm UK
ReadingReading
1-2
NorwichNorwich City
Olise (14')
Onen (83')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Buendia (11'), Pukki (55' pen.)
/esi/1339/6_G_1_121719/index.html?art_id=426827&game_id=121719&sport_id=1&ESI

Result: Norwich City return to summit with win over Reading

:Headline: Result: Norwich City return to summit with win over Reading:
Michael Olise had earlier cancelled out Emiliano Buendia's opener.
Sports Mole

Norwich returned to the top of the Championship with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

In an entertaining first half, Norwich went ahead through Emiliano Buendia early on only for Michael Olise to level soon after.

Top-scorer Teemu Pukki took his tally for the season into double figures when he stroked home a penalty in the 55th minute.

A fourth successive 2-1 win sent City three points clear at the summit.

Norwich had gradually overcome a series of injuries to key players to fashion a run of only one defeat in 14 matches, which included 10 victories.

They won 2-1 at Blackburn on Saturday, with Pukki scoring twice.

Reading had shown improved form lately, with three wins from their past five outings.

But they had also been afflicted by injuries. Leading marksmen Lucas Joao and Yakou Meite – with 14 and six goals respectively – have been ruled out until the new year.

The Madejski's East Stand was again populated by about 2,000 fans for the third successive home match.

Norwich, replaced at the top by Bournemouth after their 1-0 home win over Wycombe on Tuesday, started brightly in Berkshire.

Pukki seized on an error in midfield by Josh Laurent but, after running on unopposed, he shot tamely at home goalkeeper Rafael.

In the 11th minute, though, Norwich were gifted the opener after Reading had tried to cleverly play the ball out of defence.

They failed miserably, with Buendia taking full advantage. He cut in from the right and beat Rafael with a low drive.

Three minutes later, Reading were level after Sone Aluko's blocked shot had been fired goalwards by Ovie Ejaria.

City keeper Michael McGovern was clearly wrongfooted as the ball took a deflection off Olise and past him.

Norwich responded positively, with Pukki twice denied by the flying Rafael.

Both were firm volleys from right-wing crosses to the near post but Rafael made a pair excellent stops.

City head coach Daniel Farke brought on substitutes Todd Cantwell and Kieran Dowell at half-time in an effort to freshen up his troops.

It seemed to work, with Norwich regaining their momentum and the lead 10 minutes after the break.

Max Aarons proved too tricky for home skipper Liam Moore, who clumsily brought him down in the area, and Pukki guided in the penalty.

Reading tried to get back into it but Ejaria was well off target from long range.

And Norwich could have stretched their lead when a Dowell snapshot deflected on to a post with Rafael stranded.

In the end, though, Pukki's sure touch from the spot proved enough for the new table-toppers.

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Championship Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich20134329181143
2Bournemouth20108235161938
3Swansea CitySwansea20106423121136
4Brentford2098331181335
5Middlesbrough1996424141033
6Stoke CityStoke209652520533
7Reading2010373026433
8Watford198742215731
9Bristol City209382021-130
10Cardiff CityCardiff208572620629
11Blackburn RoversBlackburn2084834241028
12Huddersfield TownHuddersfield208482427-328
13Barnsley208482326-328
14Luton TownLuton207671721-427
15Preston North EndPreston2082102730-326
16Millwall2051051718-125
17Birmingham CityBirmingham205781723-622
18Coventry CityCoventry205782028-822
19Queens Park RangersQPR204881927-820
20Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2045111425-1117
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham1944111827-916
22Derby CountyDerby193791022-1216
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2046101121-1012
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2026121229-1712
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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1494136191731
2Everton148242519626
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs1374225121325
4Leicester CityLeicester138052417724
5Southampton147342519624
6Manchester CityMan City136521912723
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd127232219323
8Chelsea1364326141222
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham136342116521
10Wolverhampton WanderersWolves136251317-420
11Aston Villa116142113819
12Crystal Palace145361925-618
13Leeds UnitedLeeds135262224-217
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125251621-517
15Arsenal144281218-614
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton132561521-611
17Burnley12246618-1210
18Fulham132381222-109
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom131481026-167
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd130112724-171
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