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THE PROBLEM with panic is that it can be contagious. No new-manager effect for Fulham yesterday, more an afternoon of evidence that the haste with which the club dispensed with Chris Coleman had transmitted itself to his former charges. So effective in his other job as Northern Ireland boss, Lawrie Sanchez appeared exactly the short-term replacement summoned from a skiing holiday this week to spend two days preparing a shocked and disappointed squad. Primed for safety-first defending, Fulham started badly, conceded an error-laden early goal to Stephen Hunt and could have lost several more before half-time. If there is hope for their escape from relegation it came in a second-half performance in which they rediscovered their ability to pass and offered some threat to a weakened Reading side’s goal. The grand irony of Coleman’s sacking was that this was exactly the kind of situation and fixture the manager had forged his reputation in. Four years previously the Welshman had taken command of a Fulham side in far greater danger of relegation, retaining top-flight status by winning three and drawing one of his five fixtures. If the following campaign was one of overachievement, Coleman’s ability to deliver in critical matches against a backdrop of reduced transfer and wage budgets kept a club with the fan base of a minor Championship outfit safely in the Premiership. Three alterations to Fulham’s lineup were pragmatic. Franck Queudrue and Ian Pearce returned from injury to the back four, Papa Bouba Diop replaced the unfit Alexei Smertin in a flat midfield four. Their tactics were equally straightforward, Pearce setting the tone by punting the first ball that came his way high into the stands and his teammates regularly following suit. Fine by Reading, who worked their way down the wings and threatened from crosses and set pieces. Pearce was soon heading a Seol Ki-Hyeon centre past his own post, Brynjar Gunnarsson almost turned Hunt’s clever low corner kick in at the far post, Antti Niemi thwarted Ivar Ingimarsson with a swiftly outstretched leg. On the quarter-hour mark the home side did score. Seemingly in position to clear, Carlos Bocanegra allowed the ball to be pushed out to Seol and the South Korean bent his cross into the near post. Kevin Doyle gathered, turned and reverse passed to Hunt, who merely had to elevate his shot over Niemi and into the net from six yards. Battling for scraps, Fulham might have scored from two corners of their own just before. At the first Wayne Routledge’s misdirected shot fell for Heidar Helguson to test Reading’s goal-keeper. From the second, Pearce conspired to volley over from five yards. Before long the big defender had to leave the game altogether, succumbing to a calf knock while attempting to clear another home corner. Queudrue merely succumbed to inattention, permitting Seol to pilfer possession and tee up Gunnarsson for a free strike Niemi had little right to parry. As Reading continued to create openings, only the harum-scarum nature of their defending offered hope to the visitors and Fulham twice netted from offside positions as Helguson and Diop were whistled back. Sanchez sent his team out early for the second half and seemingly with greater leeway to play the passing game his predecessor had fostered. What he got was his first period of sustained pressure, a handful of half chances and a yellow card for a frustrated Helguson, slamming a drinks carrier to the turf in anger. On 66 minutes they came closer to a goal, Brian McBride heading on for Simon Davies, whose shot just failed to bypass Marcus Hahnemann. In stoppage time Michael Brown clipped the bar, but Reading had the win. Returning to the ill-fated scene of his full managerial debut with Charlton, it was deja vu for Sanchez’s assistant Les Reed. If his new boss can’t dispel the panic at Craven Cottage neither they nor the club will be seeing the Premiership again come August. Reading:Hahnemann 6, De la Cruz 5, Bikey 5, Ingimarsson 6, Shorey 5, Seol 7 (Oster 70min), Gunnarsson 7, Harper 6, Hunt 7, Doyle 7, Kitson 6 (Long 70min) Fulham: Helguson 5 Fulham:Niemi 7, Rosenior 6, Pearce 6 (Knight 26min, 6), Bocanegra 5, Queudrue 4, Routledge 6, Brown 6, Diop 6, Davies 6 (Dempsey 68min, 6), Helguson 6 (Montella 71min), McBride 6 Scorer: Reading: Hunt 15 Referee: L Mason Attendance: 24,082
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