Unlucky Fulham suffer play-off defeat

Reading 1 Fulham 0

(Reading win 2-1 on aggregate)

Yann Kermorgant’s second-half penalty ended Fulham’s promotion hopes.

On-loan Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas, under pressure from Kermorgant, was adjudged to have handled a seemingly innocuous ball into the box on 50 minutes, and Kermorgant smashed home the decisive goal with the resulting spot-kick.

Fulham found Ali Al Habsi in terrific form, with the Royals keeper making a number of saves to send his side to Wembley.

Fulham struggled to gain a foothold in a similar way to the first leg – a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage – and boss Slavisa Jokanovic’s single change, freshening up the attack with Neeskens Kebano for Chris Martin, made little impact.

The Royals pressed Fulham back and found joy with their front players as keeper Marcus Bettinelli was forced into a quick, low save to stop a low shot from Kermorgant in just the 13th minute.

Fulham only seemed to find space when the full-backs got high up into wide areas, and right-back Ryan Fredericks almost scored when he broke into the penalty area and forced Al Habsi into his first stop of the night.

Left-back Scott Malone also had an effort saved when he broke into the box and Al Habsi pulled off a fine double stop to keep out Tom Cairney’s free-kick and Kebano’s follow-up before half-time.

After Fulham found themselves behind, Ryan Sessegnon, Lucas Piazon and Chris Martin all came off the bench and Piazon, who was on loan at Reading last season, had a glorious chance to level blocked from close range.

Sessegnon also squandered a decent chance on the breakaway, before Al Habsi swept an arm in front of Martin’s effort from eight yards out that seemed destined for the net.

And deep into stoppage time, with Bettinelli inside the Reading box for a succession of corners, substitute Martin headed a Tim Ream cross agonisingly wide of the far post.