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Played
September 22, 2012 10:00 AM EDT
The Hawthorns — West Bromwich
Referee:‬ C. Foy‎
Attendance:‬ 23854‎
 
 
Top of the Match
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku
West Bromwich
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku
West Bromwich
Flop of the Match
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Reading
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Reading

West Brom 1-0 Reading: Lukaku helps Baggies make it three wins from three at home

The Premier League high-flyers rise to third and condemn the Royals to the bottom as Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku puts Brian McDermott's team to the sword

By Hayden Gribble

EPL - WBA-READING, Romelu Lukaku and Alex Pearce
Getty Images
Premier League high-flyer West Brom won its first three home games of the season for the first time since 1954, after a Romelu Lukaku goal saw Reading beaten 1-0 at the Hawthorns.

The result leaves Brian McDermott’s side still waiting for its first win of the season since its return to the Premier League, while Steve Clarke’s impressive start in his debut season in charge at the Hawthorns continues to gather momentum.

The deadlock could have been broken when James Morrison, who was the main orchestrator of chances for the Midlanders, interplayed with Zoltan Gera inside the box but ended up skewing his effort wide on 28 minutes.

The Scotland international, who pulled the strings all afternoon, hit a 30-yard drive to force a brilliant save from keeper Alex McCarthy after volleying towards the bottom left corner after Alex Pearce headed clear Chris Brunt's cross

The Baggies could have taken the lead a minute before halftime when Jonas Olsson was unlucky with a header that struck the crossbar following a Chris Brunt cross as the home side looked worthy of the lead at the break.

Morrison was replaced by former Reading striker Shane Long on 65 minutes, who plied his trade at the Madeski Stadium for six seasons.

Long headed the ball in the area into the path of his strike partner Lukaku, who slammed the ball through a crowd of players on 71 minutes to give the Baggies a well deserved lead, despite squandering a number of chances.

The result leaves Reading languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table as it continues to search for that first elusive win, while West Brom continues to soar under its new manager and sits in third place, just three points behind leader Chelsea.

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West Bromwich

1
Ben Foster
Goalkeeper
3.00
3
Jonas Olsson
Defender
3.50
6
Liam Ridgewell
Defender
3.00
23
Gareth McAuley
Defender
3.00
28
Billy Jones
Midfielder
2.50
5
Claudio Yacob
Midfielder
89′
2.50
7
James Morrison
Midfielder
65′
4.00
11
Chris Brunt
Midfielder
2.50
21
Youssouf Mulumbu
Midfielder
3.50
22
Zoltán Gera
Striker
70′
2.50
36
Romelu Lukaku
Striker
71′ 78′
4.00

Reading

3.50
21
Alex McCarthy
Goalkeeper
2.50
2
2.50
3
3.00
26
Alex Pearce
Defender
3.00
17
3.00
8
3.50
11
Jobi McAnuff
Midfielder
2.50
12
2.50
35
Danny Guthrie
Midfielder
2.00
29
2.00
9

Substitutes

13
B. Myhill
Goalkeeper
 - 
18
 - 
25
 - 
17
Graham Dorrans
Midfielder
70′
 - 
8
 - 
9
Shane Long
Striker
65′ 71′
3.50
32
 - 

Substitutes

 - 
12
Stuart Taylor
Goalkeeper
 - 
23
 - 
24
 - 
20
Jem Karacan
Midfielder
2.00
19
 - 
10
Noel Hunt
Striker
69′
 - 
18

Coach/Manager

-
 - 

Coach/Manager

 - 
-
 
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Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man United
26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool
23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham
21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa
19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City
19 0