Key stats and facts from Burnley's game against Reading.

BURNLEY

NIK MICHOPOULOS Made some first half saves look easy but was stranded for all three of the goals...6

DEAN WEST Battled long and hard with John Salako and had less impact in attack than he would have liked...6

MARK McGREGOR Once again an impressive display in the heart of defence as he linked well with Cox. Slipped for second goal...7

IAN COX Showed class at the back and also breaking forward to suggest he is getting back to his best after injury...8

LEE BRISCOE Would have conceded a penalty for handball if Cureton had not scored anyway...6

GLEN LITTLE Never stopped looking for the ball as he roamed around the midfield but he could not penetrate...6

TONY GRANT Was tidy at times but lacks the pace to get forward and still misses out on the final ball...6

LENNIE JOHNROSE Combative and hard working but he is not likely to be a solution to the Clarets goal drought as scorer or provider...6

PAUL COOK Prompted and probed in the middle of the park, was knocked flat making one block but could not find a killer pass...6

ALAN MOORE Had another disappointing game, this time in a wider role and was guilty of wasting too much possession...5

GARETH TAYLOR Has not got the necessary pace to be a lone striker but did not look much happier when he had more company...6

SUBS

IAN MOORE (50 for Cook) Little impact 5, ROBBIE BLAKE (69 for A Moore) No impression 5, PAUL WELLER (79 for Johnrose) No time 5

Subs not used: Andy Payton, Graham Branch

OPPOSITION CAMP

HAHNEMANN...Easy night for debut 7

MURTY...Licence to get forward 7

MACKIE...Untroubled skipper 8

WILLIAMS...Solid defender 7

SHOREY...Couple of shots 7

FORSTER...Crossed for opener 8

HUGHES...Good supply line 7

WATSON...Pivotal role 7

SALAKO...Good in parts 6

CURETON...Stunning strike 8

BUTLER...Lovely finish 7

SUBS

IGOE (83 for Forster), PARKINSON (90 for Watson)

Not used: Whitehead, Rougier, Harper

TIME FOR ACTION

09 Nicky Forster shoots straight at Nik Michopoulos who saves comfortably

21 A tougher test for Michopoulos as he stops John Salako's low drive

22 Tony Grant slips Taylor through but he is crowded out

24 Jamie Cureton heads narrowly wide as Michopoulos watched it closely

28 Salako's shot thuds against Paul Cook's head and he is flattened

30 Cureton's flick reached Martin Butler but his weak header was easily saved

35 The ball broke to Cureton who volleyed over when well placed

37 A flowing Burnley move ends with Alan Moore's shot blocked

55 Both Moores, Taylor and Johnrose have a half sight of goal

56 Cureton guides home Forster's cross after it deflects off Lee Briscoe's raised arms

73 Little gets a shot on target after being fed by Robbie Blake

87 Blake's free kick hits the wall, Cureton feeds Butler, he beats McGregor and nets easily

90 A long ball forward is superbly volleyed home by Cureton

REFEREE...Paul Taylor (Herts) Easy game 7

YELLOW CARDS - Royals: None;

Clarets: Cox, 39 foul; Taylor, 78 foul

RED CARDS - None

TALE OF THE TAPE (Royals first)

21 Shots 7

8 On target 2

5 Free kicks 12

1 Offsides 1

0 Woodwork 0

8 Corners 1