Throwback to when Reading FC stunned Leeds United at Elland Road
Royals pulled off a shock victory against their former boss
Royston Drenthe celebrates his goal with teammates. Credit: Eddie Greville
This weekend marks four years exactly since Reading FC pulled off a shock victory at Leeds United.
So ahead of the two sides meeting once again for a Championship clash on Saturday, we take a look back at a memorable Reading win...
Not many Royals fans expected much when they travelled up to Elland Road to take on Leeds United on March 11, 2014.
It's a long trek for a Tuesday evening any time but especially when traffic on the M62 caused kick-off to be delayed by half an hour.
Nigel Adkins' Royals went into the game on the back of two successive 1-1 draws with Yeovil Town and Brighton.
A top-six finish was still very much alive but there was still plenty of work to do, starting with a clash against their former boss Brian McDermott.
Chris Gunter and Garath McCleary celebrate the opening goal. Credit: Eddie Greville
Garath McCleary gave Royals the lead on 25 minutes after latching onto a stray pass.
Fellow winger Royston Drenthe then grabbed a second for Reading with a superb free-kick from just outside the box straight after half time.
Nick Blackman - who had come on for the injured McCleary - netted a third just two minutes later to silence the home crowd and make it 3-0 to a rampant Royals.
A rare goal by Hal Robson-Kanu on 54 minutes sparked many home fans to head towards the exits as Royals opened up a 4-0 advantage.
Leeds boss Brian McDermott felt the wrath of the home fans. Credit: Eddie Greville
Leeds' hopes of a comeback were ignited as two goals in a minute - by Matt Smith and Rodolph Austin - made it 4-2 with 25 minutes left to play.
But a resolute Royals held firm to pick up a valuable three points which saw them retain their top-six spot in the Championship table.
For McDermott the pressure was well and truly on and he ended up leaving the Yorkshire club just two months later.
Reading: McCarthy, Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Obita, Drenthe (Hector 78), McAnuff, McCleary (Blackman 40), Akpan, Guthrie, Robson-Kanu (Cummings 86).
Reading boss Nigel Adkins barks out orders from the touchline. Credit: Eddie Greville
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