Reading 1-2 Scunthorpe United
Report from the Madejski Stadium

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United managed to pull off a Championship surprise and impressively win 2-1 at much-fancied Reading on the first day of the new season.

Garry Thompson produced a poacher's finish to give Scunthorpe an early lead and, although Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised in the first half, the Iron won it through Rob Jones' bullet header on 60 minutes.

It was a superb way to start the season for Nigel Adkins' men, who went into the campaign as relegation favourites, and into Saturday's game as big underdogs.

The headline news pre-match saw Cliff Byrne miss out on being passed fit. The club captain was out of the squad for the game at the Madejski Stadium due to a hip injury picked up in training last week.

Joe Murphy started in goal for the season opener, with Eddie Nolan (fit again after an ankle injury), David Mirfin, Jones and Jim McNulty forming the defence.

The midfield consisted of Thompson, Josh Wright, captain Sam Togwell and Michael O'Connor, while Chris Dagnall supported Jonathan Forte up front.

The substitutes were Sam Slocombe, Andrew Wright, Michael Raynes, Niall Canavan, Martyn Woolford, Michael Collins and Bobby Grant.

Lining up for Reading was ex-Iron left-back Marcus Williams, making his debut for the Royals after leaving Scunthorpe in the summer, and he received a few boos from the away following.

There was a mixture of sunshine and showers ahead of kick-off, leaving the excellent pitch in fine condition.

Wearing their usual claret and blue strip, the Iron kicked off facing the home fans and Forte immediately tried to flick through Dagnall, who was beaten to the ball by Matt Mills.

The hosts then began to find their way into the game as an attacking force and, after a couple of close shaves, Jobi McAnuff drove a shot over the crossbar for the Royals in the fourth minute.

Shortly after, McAnuff's cross found Jimmy Kebe, whose diving header flew over the crossbar.

Then, Jem Karacan's header went wide of goal just seconds later after he got on the end of McAnuff's cross, after he had capitalised on sloppy defending from the visitors.

Scunthorpe took the lead in controversial fashion in the ninth minute, as Thompson flicked home after Forte had weaved his way into space on the left and sent the ball goalwards, it took a deflection and went into the path of Thompson, who flicked the ball past the goalkeeper to put his side ahead.

Garry Thompson celebrates putting the Iron ahead.

For a few moments it looked like the goal had been ruled out for offside, but referee Fred Graham over-ruled his linesman, deeming the deflection to play Thompson onside.

The Reading fans were far from happy, and it seemed to knock some steam out of their side.

Forte came close with a chance 10 minutes later, flicking a volley into the arms of Adam Federici after Thompson had headed across Josh Wright's corner.

The hosts did level in the 26th minute, however, and in spectacular fashion too, as Sigurdsson's effort from 25 yards flew past Murphy and into the back of the Iron net. He had time to pick his spot and send a wonderful effort beyond the Republic of Ireland international.

That didn't deter the Iron though, and Forte superbly beat his man before playing Dagnall in down the left whose low cross just couldn't quite find Thompson in the area. Josh Wright then struck an effort over the crossbar after the away team had kept possession.

The opportunistic Forte latched on to a Wright throughball shortly after but, off balance, his shot drew a save from Federici.

O'Connor then had a fierce effort blocked as Scunthorpe continued to have the better of the exchanges at that point.

The Northern Ireland international came even closer on 37 minutes, curling a free-kick on to the roof of the netting.

After Mirfin had curtailed an attack from the hosts, Thompson had another effort for the Iron on the break on 41 minutes. The former Morecambe man cut inside before drilling a low effort goalwards, which Federici dived down well to save.

It proved the last real chance of the half, with Scunthorpe on top towards the end of it.

At the start of the second period, a smart move involving O'Connor and Forte almost came off, but the latter just missed out on getting on the end of the former's clipped throughball.

Then, Mirfin did superbly to block a ball into the box from the right, under pressure from Kebe. The ball went out for a corner but the defender stayed down and was stretchered off clutching his shoulder, with Raynes replacing him.

David Mirfin is stretchered off early in the second half.

Just as McAnuff's curled effort from the left hand side of the area looked to be going towards Murphy's top left-hand corner, Raynes managed to deflect the ball wide for a corner with his head.

On 60 minutes, the Iron went ahead as O'Connor's corner from the right reached Jones, who powered a bullet header past Federici and into the back of the net to put his side back ahead. He and his team-mates then went to celebrate in front of the United fans behind the goal.

Rob Jones' header flies into the back of the net.

The home team were keen to restore parity, and Kebe raced through before sending an effort wide five minutes after the goal.

Sigurdsson then curled a free-kick goalwards which clipped the top of the crossbar before going over.

Woolford came on for Dagnall as United injected some fresh pace going forward on 73 minutes.

Shortly after, the hosts carved the Scunthorpe defence open though and Murphy superbly saved from Simon Church at point blank range after he had been set up by Kebe and had all the time in the world to get a shot in on goal. McNulty hacked clear the loose ball as his side hung on to their lead.

Woolford came close on 77 minutes, with his volleyed shot from distance well saved by Federici after Forte had knocked the ball down.

Three minutes later, Forte raced away down the left but blasted the ball high and wide of goal from a narrow angle.

During a brief period of respite from some heavy Reading pressure, Thompson blasted over the crossbar from Woolford's cross.

Andrew Wright replaced O'Connor with two minutes left as United look to shore up defensively for the final few minutes, plus stoppage time - which turned out to be a very nervy six minutes.

They managed to weather the attacks thrown at them by the hosts though and held on for three early, yet important, away points.

Indeed, right at the end, Woolford fizzed a shot just over the crossbar from distance. The referee blew his whistle for full time straight after though as the Iron players, coaching staff and travelling contingent celebrated.

Nigel Adkins' side are next in action on Tuesday night when they host Oldham Athletic in the first round of the Carling Cup (7.45pm kick-off).