Reading boss Leam Richardson hails Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s match-winner at Burton

Leam Richardson was delighted as substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan scored the winner in a 2-1 victory at Burton to push Reading back into the top six of Sky Bet League One.

The Royals got back to winning ways after Richardson tweaked things following just one point from their previous two games.

“It’s a real number nine’s goal,” Richardson enthused. “He has waited for his chances and been fantastic for us.

“It is never easy as a young lad wearing that number nine shirt and he more than deserves his goal for the way he leads the line.”

He added: “We learned a lot from last Tuesday [defeat at Mansfield] so we came with a different intent.

“But our effort and endeavour was there to see tonight. The credit for tonight goes to the players. I thought we played really well on Saturday without getting the win, but tonight it all paid off.”

Reading had trailed to a superb 30-yard effort from former midfielder George Evans, but Brighton loanee Kamari Doyle cancelled that out with a magnificent rising drive to bring the visitors level.

“Kami’s was an unbelievable strike,” Richardson said. “We have been working very hard with him on that type of finish and if he can continue to emulate that he will be in a very good place.

“Kami was quite emotional after the game on Saturday purely because of the effort he put in and the fact he didn’t get a goal, which for a loan player, that attitude is outstanding. And he deserves that goal tonight for those honest moments.”

Burton head coach Gary Bowyer felt the official’s failure to penalise Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira for handling outside his area after just 20 seconds had a huge bearing on the game.

“It is a clear handball,” Bowyer stated. “The linesman is stood right in front of it and the fourth official is close to it. It is clearly handball and it is a really disappointing decision which hugely impact the game.”

Pereira went on to make a crucial save to deny Tyrese Shade from making it 2-0 in the first half.

“That is the injustice of it really. He makes a wonderful save and another one shortly afterwards as well.”

Bowyer could not fault his players efforts in the face of the perceived injustice and Albion should have also had a second-half penalty when substitute Andy Cannon was brought down moments after coming on.

He added: “I was really pleased with how we went about it tonight. Reading are a top team and we really went about it well tonight and created chances.

“I am honest in my assessments and I thought we were really good tonight, and did deserve more from the game than we got.”