Reading 0
Chelsea 1 (Ingimarsson og 45)
Reading were somewhat unlucky to lose a scrappy game 1-0 to Chelsea this evening, with Ivar Ingimarsson's own goal separating the two teams.
The first half saw Chelsea on top in terms of possession, and both teams hit the woodwork, with Kevin Doyle rattling a post and Ingimarsson heading against his own crossbar.
Reading lost Graeme Murty through injury in that first period, while Bobby Convey missed the game completely because of a knee problem.
Frank Lampard's free kick took a lucky double deflection just before half time, and Ingimarsson's final touch took it past Marcus Hahnemann.
Chelsea then slowed the game down after the break, but John Obi Mikel's dismissal for two yellow cards just after the hour opened things up.
The numerical advantage lasted 20 minutes until sub Andre Bikey was dismissed for his second caution. The Cameroonian's second card looked a little soft, with Didier Drogba certainly fouled but Mike Riley's decision to get the book out was a little surprising.
Drogba cleared off the line inside injury time as Reading looked for an equaliser, and John Terry was forced to go in goal with Carlo Cudicini concussed, and Petr Cech already off injured.
There was still time for more drama as Kevin Dillon and a member of the Chelsea staff were sent away from the dugout as the Chelsea man prevented Reading from getting the ball back.
In the end though Chelsea went home with a win that was perhaps more a display of their experience rather than their undoubted quality.
Reading (4-4-2): Hahnemann; Murty (c) (Bikey 36), Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson; Harper, Sidwell, Seol (Little 64), Hunt, Doyle, Lita (Long 73)
Subs: Stack, Gunnarsson
Booked: Ingimarsson, Sonko
Sent off: Bikey (two yellows)
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech (Cudicini 5); Ferreira, Bridge, Boulahrouz, Terry (c); Essien, Lampard, Mikel; Robben (Kalou 82), Shevchenko (J Cole 63); Drogba
Subs: Carvalho, Wright-Phillips
Booked: Terry
Sent off: Mikel (two bookings)
Ref: M Riley
Attendance: 24,025
Full report
The game started dramatically, with Stephen Hunt catching Chelsea keeper Petr Cech full in the face with his knee as they went for a loose ball. There was a delay of some four minutes, and eventually Carlo Cudicini came on in the big Czech's place.
It was quiet up until the ten minute mark, with Chelsea enjoying most of the possession. Ivar Ingimarsson had half a chance from Hunt's corner but headed wide.
The visitors were pressing, and a Ferreira cross from the right looked an easy take for Marcus Hahnemann, but Ingimarsson felt it best to head clear and only diverted it onto his own bar.
Arjen Robben nearly profitted from a Graeme Murty slip but dragged his shot wide. It was a bitty game, with another injury delay for treatment to Ferreira's elbow.
Ibrahima Sonko was at the top of his game again, winning some superb headers and putting in one brilliantly-timed challenge as Didier Drogba advanced.
Reading sprung into life just after the half hour mark, prompted by some brilliant wing play by Hunt. He jinked past three inside the area, and found Kevin Doyle eight yards from goal. The striker turned exquisitely, and saw his effort cannon off the post with Cudicini beaten.
Reading lost captain Graeme Murty on 35 minutes as his hamstring injury unfortunately proved the end of him. He passed the armband to Ingimarsson as Andre Bikey came on his place.
The visitors were gifted a chance when Hahnemann rolled out a short pass to Bikey, even though the Cameroonian was not looking. Robben nipped in, but the keeper saved as Drogba shot.
Chelsea's pressure finally told, but Frank Lampard perhaps went to ground easily as he won a free kick that saw Sonko booked.
From the the set piece, Lampard's shot took a double deflection, first off Sonko then Ingimarsson to go past Hahnemann for 1-0, with the Icelander credited with an own goal.
The second half started with Reading still on the back foot, but Hunt's persistence won a corner. It was played out to James Harper on the edge of the box, and he caught his volley well but it was miles off target.
The game was very scrappy, with Chelsea awarded a number of free kicks that slowed proceedings down.
The visitors were down to ten men though when John Obi Mikel picked up his second booking for hauling down Sonko as Reading broke from a corner. It was definitely worthy of a yellow, although his first caution in the first half was a little harsh.
Referee Riley continued to be involved in proceedings, having to sort out a melee on the touchline as his control on the game was pushed to its limit. He incurred the wrath of the home fans on a few occasions as they felt a number of marginal decisions went against them.
Reading were beginning to get on top against the ten men, and Steve Sidwell was marginally wide with a long range drive.
Steve Coppell's team were pressing desperately for an equaliser, but their cause was not helped when Bikey was sent off. His first yellow card could not be questioned, but the second looked a little soft as Drogba went to ground. It was certainly a foul, but the card was maybe harsh, although Steve Coppell had no complaints after the match.
Sub Shane Long hit a fizzing cross that almost created a chance, and Glen Little put in a series of crosses that troubled the defence.
Inside injury time, there was more goalkeeping drama for Chelsea as Cudicini was knocked out by Sonko as the defender threw himself at the ball. Play was allowed to continue, and Drogba cleared off the line to save a goal.
Cudicini was down for a full eight minutes, needing the stretcher and oxygen in a very serious-looking injury.
Having used all three subs, Chelsea were forced to play with John Terry in goal and only nine men on the pitch.
There was still time for more drama as Kevin Dillon and a member of the Chelsea staff were sent away from the dugout as the Chelsea man prevented Reading from getting the ball back.
Chelsea held on though and went back with three points that owed more to their resilience than anything else.
