Hunt brothers see off Clarets

Hunt: Noel takes the applause

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Reading brothers Noel and Stephen Hunt were again on target as Steve Coppell's side kept on course their bid for an immediate return to the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Burnley.

The duo have been integral to Reading's excellent form of late and it was a third Irishman that helped see off Burnley, as Shane Long helped himself to a third.

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.

Brave header

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.

Long way back

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.