HAL LETS HIS GOALS DO THE TALKING
CONTRACT rebel Hal Robson-Kanu might be stalling on talks at Reading but he is motoring on the pitch after netting twice as the Royals were held by Fulham.
Twinkle-toed Robson-Kanu won and converted a penalty before bagging a bullet header – sandwiched between strikes by Moussa Dembele and Ross McCormack for the visitors.
And Brian McDermott is hoping his soon-to-be out-of-contract winger can keep on scoring and will make a decision on his future soon, with Premier League clubs Swansea and Aston Villa circling.
Royals boss McDermott, whose side are marooned in mid-table mediocrity, said: “I told Hal to score some more goals, it’s genius. He’s making goals and scoring goals.
“I’ve know him since he was a boy and we trust each other. He has been great for Reading for a long period of time. I’m pleased he has added the goals to his repertoire.
“It would be nice to keep him. He’s talking about leaving it until the summer which is his prerogative. Every game he has given me everything.
“I talk to Hal every day. He and his agent know how I feel. He has a massive allegiance to us.
“He’s scored two goals, he’s taken a good penalty and scored a good header.
“Good luck to him. Everything he does is with my blessing. If he decides something special is happening here I’m sure he will decide to stay.”
Fulham were the first to take the lead in a topsyturvy affair as Dembele produced an acrobatic volley to fire in defender Michael Madl’s knock-down.
Fulham’s attempt at holding onto the advantage lasted 16 minutes before centre-back Fernando Amorebieta shoved over Robson-Kanu in ridiculous fashion. The Wales international picked himself and slotted the spot-kick into the bottom left corner.
Robson-Kanu then netted his second of the game, and third in three, to give Reading their fleeting hold on the game, nodding in after a stunning turn of pace from Ola John earned him space in the box.
The Royals should have been out of sight 38 seconds into the second half when Yann Kermorgant controlled wonderfully on the edge of the box and shifted brilliantly, but his low shot bobbled wide.
The match took its final turn when Jake Cooper hauled down Ryan Fredericks. McCormack sent Al-Habsi the wrong way to notch up his 19th goal of the season.
The hosts had chances to win it, with John the main architect. First of all he turned provider with a stunning back-heel for Stephen Quinn, whose shot deflected behind. Then John, whose brother Collins is a Fulham legend after 108 appearances at the Cottage, forced Lonergan into two low saves after a couple of thunderous strikes.
Fulham are still looking nervous- ly over their shoulders with just a five-point buffer to the drop zone, and Slavisa Jokanovic was not happy with his side.
“It was a strange game and we made unnecessary mistakes,” he said. “We showed some character to get back into the game after losing the lead.
“We are suffering in this competition and we need to be more solid. In the last 15 minutes they pushed us but we held firm.
“If we could have got three points it would be better. We scored the first goal and dominated and created some half-chances but we weren’t clinical enough.
“I can’t remember many them having many chances but they scored two goals. You can’t give teams at this level any chances.”