Juan Mata's goal has given Chelsea a 1-0 half-time lead at Reading in the Premier League.

The visitors started strongly and they could have taken the lead in the seventh minute, only for Branislav Ivanovic to head over from a corner.

Chelsea were surging forward again soon after, but Ashley Cole blazed his speculative effort over the crossbar.

Reading enjoyed a good spell of possession midway through the half before the away side came closest to breaking the deadlock.

Gary Cahill saw his header fly inches wide of the goal on 30 minutes following Frank Lampard's free kick.

However, Chelsea got themselves in front in first-half injury time as Mata drove the ball past Adam Federici.

Written by
Jack Prescott