Half-Time Report: Jake Cooper heads Reading into lead

Jake Cooper scored a first-half brace for Reading to give them a 2-1 lead over Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Championship this afternoon.

Gary Hooper opened the scoring when he turned home Cameron Jerome's flick-on after a low cross from Nathan Redmond after 10 minutes.

However, the Canaries' lead lasted just four minutes when Cooper headed home Oliver Norwood's corner to net his first senior goal for the Royals.

The lively Redmond then teed up teammate Kyle Lafferty on the edge of the box, but his weak effort was comfortably held by Adam Federici in the Reading goal.

The home side almost regained the lead when they launched a counter-attack shortly before the half-hour mark, but Lafferty's powerful effort was tipped onto the bar by Federici.

With the first half drawing to a close, Cooper struck again in similar circumstances to give his side the advantage.