MX23RW : Friday, February 12 08:30:53| >> :120:31961:31961:
Nov 23, 2019 at 3pm UK at Brentford Community Stadium
Attendance: 11,892
Brentford
1-0
Reading
Watkins (62')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Result: Ollie Watkins nets winner for Brentford

Result: Ollie Watkins nets winner for Brentford
© Reuters
Watkins' well-taken header was his 11th goal of the season.

Ollie Watkins fired in-form Brentford to within striking distance of the Championship play-offs with a 1-0 victory over Reading.

The Bees racked up a fifth win from their last six matches and dealt Royals boss Mark Bowen a first defeat since he took charge last month.

Watkins' well-taken header was his 11th goal of the campaign and, if he stays in this sort of form, Brentford could yet mark their final season at Griffin Park with a genuine promotion push.

Reading, unbeaten in their previous four outings, almost gifted the hosts an early lead when Michael Morrison's back-pass sold keeper Rafael Cabral short.

Watkins dived in to block Rafael's clearance and the ball cannoned back off the striker only to bounce inches wide.

Rico Henry, who needed lengthy treatment for an elbow in the mouth early on, then raided down the left and pulled the ball back for Said Benrahma, who skewed his shot wide.

Henry got in again after referee David Coote played an advantage following a foul on Watkins, but his angled drive was blocked by Rafael.

But Reading had the best chance of the first period on the half-hour mark when George Puscas burst through on goal.

The Romanian forward opted to go round David Raya rather than shoot and the Bees keeper got down well to make the save.

As half-time approached, Bryan Mbeumo's deflected drive from the edge of the box was tipped round the past by Rafael.

After the break Henry scampered clear down the left again and crossed for Watkins, who missed his kick in front of goal.

But the breakthrough came on the hour with that man Henry in the thick of it again.

The full-back laid the ball off to Mathias Jensen, who curled in an inviting cross which Watkins emphatically headed back across Rafael and inside the far post.

Watkins was denied a second moments later when Rafael somehow kept him at bay two yards out following a goalmouth scramble.

Reading chased an equaliser but Ovie Ejaria blazed over and Andy Yiadom fired agonisingly wide as Brentford marched on.

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Huddersfield manager Danny Cowley watches the action on October 19, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Brentford28169355282757
2Norwich CityNorwich28167535231255
3Swansea CitySwansea27158435152053
4Watford28139631201148
5Reading2814684132948
6Bournemouth28129743281545
7Middlesbrough28117103128340
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn271161041291239
9Stoke CityStoke2891273229339
10Bristol City28123132933-439
11Cardiff CityCardiff28107113732537
12Preston North EndPreston28113143236-436
13Barnsley27106112934-536
14Millwall2871472626035
15Luton TownLuton2797112229-734
16Queens Park RangersQPR2789102632-633
17Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2896133139-833
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2888122530-532
19Coventry CityCoventry28710112637-1131
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham2785143338-529
21Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2897122130-928
22Derby CountyDerby2777131728-1128
23Birmingham CityBirmingham28610122134-1328
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2737171847-2916

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