Ireland the hero for City

Stephen Ireland popped up with a goal in the last minutes of the game to earn Man City a 2-1 victory over Reading. The goal was something special, as the midfielder stormed into the box to volley into the back of the net to cancel out Harper's earlier equaliser.

Martin Petrov had put the hosts ahead after 11 minutes, thrashing home from 12 yards after an almighty goalmouth scramble which saw Elano's effort cannon back off the post.

James Harper pulled the visitors level two minutes before the break with a neat left-footed shot which left Andreas Isaksson rooted to the spot, but Ireland popped up at the death with a fantastic volley.

After Petrov put City in front, you'd have thought Man City would go on to impress and get more goals - not the case at all. Reading will feel unlucky not to have picked up a point. In fact, it was all Reading and they were rewarded with two minutes of the first period remaining Harper levelled with a precise finish, neatly guiding the ball home with his instep following Convey's pass.

After half-time it was very much 50-50. Stephen Hunt missed a glorious chance to put Reading in front, and Fernandes could've easily done the same for Man City.

It was one of those games where it was going to have to be something special to settle this game, and deep into stoppage time, Stephen Ireland showed why Sven-Goran Eriksson rates him so highly. The midfielder raced into the box and showed wonderful technique to meet Geovanni's header on the run and crash a superb volley past Hahnemann.

An excellent result to keep Man City's season well on track.