West Bromwich Albion 4-1 Reading: Dwight Gayle double helps Baggies to fifth home win on spin

Image source, Rex Features

Image caption, Dwight Gayle pounced at the far post to head the Baggies level from close range

West Bromwich Albion came from behind to eventually ease to victory against Reading and claim a fifth consecutive home league win.

The Royals took an early lead through Leandro Bacuna's clinical finish from a corner, before the hosts' Harvey Barnes struck the post.

But the Baggies took full control in the second half, as on-loan striker Dwight Gayle produced two well-guided finishes in quick succession to turn the game on its head.

Barnes' fine long-range effort made it 3-1 before defender Kyle Bartley netted Albion's fourth from a corner.

The convincing result saw West Brom stretch their unbeaten league run to seven games, having now won all five of their home Championship matches since hitting seven past Queens Park Rangers on 18 August.

Yet again, the poacher's instincts of Newcastle United loanee Gayle boosted the Baggies, as he netted his seventh and eighth goals of the campaign so far.

Reading's defeat left them above the relegation zone only on goal difference, after fellow strugglers Preston and Ipswich ended their respective winless runs.

In contrast, Darren Moore's confident hosts moved up to second in the table, capitalising on Middlesbrough's home loss to Nottingham Forest and Leeds' draw with Brentford.

West Brom boss Darren Moore told 大象传媒 WM 95.6FM:

"You get the job done, we started very slow but we had two tough away games to factor in and I thought the longer we went on the stronger I thought we'd get.

"To go a goal down was very difficult but the key for us was not conceding a second goal. Coming in at half-time we thought we could show more signs in the second half and we did, we got the early goal and it gave us more impetus.

"The goals came after that and we ran out worthy winners in the end, a slow start and a strong finish."

Reading boss Paul Clement told 大象传媒 Radio Berkshire:

"First half was the best we'd played all season, we came to a team who had been really strong, scored more goals than anyone, had PL quality all over the pitch and we were better side by far.

"We got a good goal and stopped them doing the things they like to do. We had to be pleased. They deserved the praise for the first half but second half they came out with more intensity.

"I don't think they were tactical reasons as to why we lost the game, we made mistakes and looking back at the goals we can do better in all those situations."