Reading 3-4 Man United - Robin Van Persie Rescues Reds

United fans might be used to seeing their side come from behind, but good grief, even this one made the most optimistic of supporters nervous. Remarkably, seven goals were scored inside the opening 45 minutes, but not quite so remarkable was the fact United again conceded the first goal. It was the fourteenth time they have done so this season, and yet they are still top of the Barclays Premier League tonight. United went into this fixture on the back of a few surprise results that benefited them greatly - namely second placed Man City's failure to beat Everton and Chelsea's shock slump to West Ham. A win then would set them apart from the pack, and put them three points ahead of neighbors City. But if United fans thought they were in for an easy ride against Reading, a side placed second bottom from the foot of the table, they were in for quite a surprise. Robson-Kanu opened proceedings when afforded ample time and space to lash home a half volley after a poor defensive clearance from Jonny Evans. It's never really a good thing though to score first against United, as more often than not they find a way to claw themselves back into the game, and that they did when this season's much improved Anderson, who so often has been a peripheral figure at Old Trafford, played a slick one-two with Ashley Young before beating Federici at his near post for 1-1. Coming from behind this season has often been a foreboding sign of things to come for United's opponents, and so it told on sixteen minutes when Sir Alex Ferguson's men completed the turnaround. Evans, marginally at fault for the opener, was clearly bundled over in the penalty area by Jay Tabb, who committed an inexplicable challenge - The Irishman was facing away from goal and posed no immediate threat. Yet referee Mark Halsey correctly pointed to the spot and Wayne Rooney smartly converted for 1-2. When many thought this may be indicative of United putting clear daylight between their opponents, Reading equalised through Le Fondre just three minutes later. The forward, a confessed life-long Reds fan, headed home from a corner after nineteen minutes, again exposing United's defensive frailties at the back. That was only the tip of the ice burg in a Topsy-Turvy game when Morrison sensationally scored an almost identical header just three minutes later for 3-2. United were all over the show at the back at this point, and defender Rafael was hauled off after just 31 minutes having been booked for a rash challenge on Jobi McAnuff. Perhaps feeling that the Brazilian was a liability, Ferguson sent on Chris Smalling. With half an hour on the clock, five goals had already been plundered, yet events would take a turn in United's favour on the half hour mark. Patrice Evra sent in a cross for Rooney to side foot home for his second of the evening, tying the game at three a piece. Rooney then turned provider for Van Persie to score from a neat finish after 34 minutes, ensuring United somehow led at the interval. That's the way things stayed, as the second half never even began to live up to the frenetic pace of the first as both sides were limited to few chances. United should have had a fifth just before half time, when replays showed Van Persie's strike crossed the line before being clawed away by the Reading goalkeeper, but it didn't matter too much in the end as United put three points between themselves and Man City, whom they face next weekend, Quite whether they will be able to get away with such slack defending then remains to be seen, but this will be a result that poses more questions than answers for Sir Alex.